French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that his government recognizes Israel’s right to protect itself against Hamas’ terrorism but that there is “no justification” for bombing civilians in Gaza.
During a BBC interview on Nov. 10, Mr. Macron said he condemned Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack on Israel but stressed that the fight against terrorism must be compliant with humanitarian international law.
“De facto—today, civilians are bombed—de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. There is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do urge Israel to stop,” he remarked.
Mr. Macron believed that a ceasefire would be “the only solution” to the Israel-Hamas war and hoped that other world leaders—including the United States and the United Kingdom—would join him in calling for one.
“I think the only solution we have is a ceasefire because it’s impossible to explain [that] we want to fight against terrorism by killing innocent people,” he said.
“We know what terrorism means here in France, but I think there is no justification precisely to attack civilians.”
Israel has aimed its airstrikes at Hamas targets in Gaza and imposed a complete siege, cutting off the food, water, and fuel that it controlled in Gaza after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Oct. 7.
Netanyahu Says Hamas Uses Civilians As ‘Human Shields’
Responding to Mr. Macron’s comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the responsibility for any harm to civilians in Gaza lies with Hamas, not with Israel.“While Israel does everything in its power to avoid harming civilians and urges them to leave the battle areas, Hamas - ISIS is doing all it can to prevent them from moving to safe areas and uses them as human shields.
“The crimes being committed today by Hamas—ISIS in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York, and all over the world,” he added.
Mr. Netanyahu has said that a ceasefire is not possible without the release of hostages. Hamas took more than 200 hostages during the Oct. 7 attack, which include children, women, and the elderly.
But Israel has agreed to daily four-hour pauses in operations in Gaza to let civilians move south, according to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Nov. 9.
Mr. Macron’s remarks came after a conference in Paris on Nov. 9, where he gathered with officials from Western and Arab nations, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations to call for the urgent need for aid delivery to Gaza.
Israeli authorities were not invited but have been informed of the talks. The French leader said during the conference that “all lives have equal worth” and that they must work towards a ceasefire.
Mr. Macron also said that France will provide an additional 80 million euros ($85 million) in humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians, bringing France’s funding to a total of 100 million euros ($107 million) this year.
