French publisher Hachette is recalling three high‑school revision manuals after they described the Israeli victims of the October 7 attacks as "Jewish settlers," a phrase that sparked widespread condemnation. President Emmanuel Macron and Jewish community leaders denounced the wording as a falsification of facts, prompting an apology from Hachette's chairman and an internal investigation. The publisher is recalling about 2,000 copies while official casualty figures and humanitarian data from multiple sources continue to show heavy losses and widespread destruction since the conflict.
Hachette Withdraws High‑School Textbooks After Victims Labeled "Jewish Settlers"; Macron and Jewish Leaders Condemn
Hachette is France's biggest publisher (JOEL SAGET)(JOEL SAGET/AFP/AFP)
French publisher Hachette announced on Wednesday that it is withdrawing three high‑school revision manuals after they described Israeli victims of the October 7, 2023 attacks as "Jewish settlers." The wording prompted sharp criticism from political and community leaders and led the publisher to launch an internal probe and recall copies of the books.
Context of the Attacks
The October 7 assault — the deadliest in Israel’s history — involved militants from the Palestinian group Hamas and resulted in large numbers of casualties in settlements near the Gaza Strip and at a music festival. Official tallies differ: an AFP count based on Israeli figures records 1,221 people killed in the October 7 attacks and 251 taken hostage, including 44 later found dead.
Controversy Over Wording
The revision guides for final‑year students used the term "Jewish settlers" to refer collectively to the victims. That phrase is often used to describe Israelis living in settlements considered illegal under international law, and critics said its blanket use here distorted the historical record and implicitly framed the victims in a political context.
"In October 2023, following the death of more than 1,200 Jewish settlers in a series of Hamas attacks, Israel decided to tighten its economic blockade and invade a large part of the Gaza Strip, triggering a large‑scale humanitarian crisis in the region," read a passage quoted from the manuals.
Political and Community Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron called the passages "intolerable," saying on X that they amounted to a "falsification of the facts" and amounted to "revisionism." Yonathan Arfi, head of the French Jewish group CRIF, described the wording as "a falsification of history and an unacceptable legitimisation of terrorism by Hamas," and criticised the manuals for failing to explicitly identify Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Hachette Response
Arnaud Lagardère, chairman of Hachette, apologised in a statement: "I personally offer my apologies to all those who may rightly have felt hurt, to the teaching staff, to the parents of students, and to the students themselves." Hachette — France's largest publisher — said it had opened an internal investigation and was recalling an estimated 2,000 copies of the revision manuals.
Wider Humanitarian Toll
Authorities in Gaza and UN reporting highlight the grave humanitarian consequences since the outbreak of the conflict. Gazan authorities estimate that more than 70,000 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli bombardment since October, and UN data indicate that nearly 80% of buildings in the territory have been destroyed or damaged. Separately, the Hamas‑run Gaza health ministry reported that Israeli forces killed at least 447 Palestinians in Gaza after a ceasefire took effect in October; such figures are contested and vary by source.
What Happens Next
Hachette's internal review will determine how the wording appeared in the textbooks and whether further revisions are required. The company has removed the titles from circulation while it investigates and has apologised to readers and educators affected by the controversy.
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