Emmanuel Macron
In a late-Friday interview with the BBC, French President Emmanuel Macron demanded that Israel cease bombing Gaza and killing civilians.
Macron declared that there was “no justification” for the bombing and ceasefire would eventually benefit Israel.
He declared that although acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defence, France “clearly condemns” the “terrorist” acts of Hamas and that “we do urge them to stop this bombing” in Gaza.
When questioned if he hoped other world leaders, such as those in the United States and Great Britain, would support his calls for a ceasefire, Macron replied, “I hope they will.”
Israel says the militants from Gaza, who attacked the country on October 7 and kidnapped its citizens, would take advantage of a truce to regroup, despite growing calls for moderation in its month-long conflict with Hamas.
Speaking the day after a humanitarian aid conference in Paris about the war in Gaza, Macron said the “clear conclusion” of all governments and agencies present at that summit was “that there is no other solution than first a humanitarian pause, going to a ceasefire, which will allow [us] to protect… all civilians having nothing to do with terrorists”.
He further continued, “De facto – today, civilians are bombed – de facto. These babies, these ladies, these old people are bombed and killed. So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do urge Israel to stop.”
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