French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that Iran's condoning of Hamas' attack on Israel was unacceptable, and that France was looking into whether it was directly involved.
"I have no comment to make about the direct involvement of Iran for which we have no formal proof, but it's clear that the public comments by Iranian authorities were unacceptable... and that it is likely that Hamas was offered help," Macron said.
"But I will remain careful on that point until we have stabilized intelligence," he added in a news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Macron and Scholz both emphasized Israel's right to defend itself against attacks on its territory.
"I hope the next days will allow Israel to put an end to any attack against Israel's territory and free the hostages", Macron said.
Iranian authorities immediately ordered celebrations as the attack was unfolding on October 7, and both top officials and state-controlled media praised those involved in the terror attack.
On Tuesday, Iran’s ruler Ali Khamenei at a military ceremony declared, “We salute the foreheads and arms of the ingenious and intelligent Palestinian designers and the young people. But those who claim that the recent victory belongs to non-Palestinians have miscalculated.”
There have been media reports of Iran’s direct involvement in preparing the Hamas attack, although governments have so far insisted, they have no definitive evidence.
Asked whether Europe should end all financial aid to Palestinians in response to Hamas' attack on Israel last weekend, Macron declined, saying: "One must not confound the fight against terrorism with the most essential humanitarian rights to support the civilian population."
