Civilians are getting bombed in Gaza and this needs to stop, French President Emmanuel Macron has told the BBC in an interview on Friday.
France “clearly condemns” the Hamas attacks of October 7, Macron said. “We do share (Israel’s) pain. And we do share their willingness to get rid of terrorism. We know what terrorism means in France.”
However, he added, there was “no justification” for the ongoing bombing of civilians in Gaza.
“It’s extremely important for all of us, because of our principles, because we are democracies, it’s important for the mid-to-long run, as well for the security of Israel itself, to recognize that all lives matter,” the French president said.
“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.”
Macron spoke with the BBC a day after Paris hosted a humanitarian aid conference about Gaza. The “clear conclusion” of all the governments and agencies that took part, the French president said, 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.”
Several NGOs, as well as the governments of Algeria and Colombia, have pushed for prosecuting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza. When pressed about the issue, Macron dodged the question, saying it would not be appropriate for a head of state to criticize “a partner and a friend” just a month after a terrorist attack.
However, he argued that the best way for Israel to defend itself is not a “large bombing of Gaza,” which is only creating “resentment and bad feelings” in the region.
French Flip-Flopping
Macron, however, was one of several western leaders who gave Israel what many understood to be blank checks in the early days of Tel Aviv’s war against Gaza.
Visiting Israel last month, Macron proposed re-activating the US-led “global coalition against ISIS” to combat Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Macron’s latest comments by citing the ISIS reference.
“These crimes that Hamas-ISIS is committing today in Gaza, will tomorrow be committed in Paris, New York and everywhere around the world. World leaders must condemn Hamas-ISIS and not Israel,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli Army Bombs Palestinians Fleeing to Southern Gaza, Killing and Injuring Many
Death Toll
Israel has, thus far, killed over 11,078 – including 4,506 children and 3,027 women – and wounded 27,409. Palestinian Ministry of Health reports and international organizations say that the majority of those killed and wounded are women and children.
Despite a massive Israeli military buildup around the Gaza borders and sporadic infiltrations on the outskirts of the besieged Strip, Palestinian Resistance continues to repel Israeli attacks.
To justify its military failure, the Israeli army continues to pound civilian homes throughout the Gaza Strip with new massacres reported everywhere in the besieged enclave.
Gaza has been under a tight Israeli military siege since 2007, following a democratic election in occupied Palestine, the results of which were rejected by Tel Aviv and Washington.
(RT, PC)
Netanyahu, did you kill hamas? No you killed civilans, also led them to starvation, untreated after terminal injuries. Whatever your reason, it doesn’t justify mass murder of civilian. Even ignoring what happened to palestinian civilians from before hamas was born to october 7th 2023, you’re becoming more of a terrorist than hamas that you considered terrorist. Terror is what you do now, even exceeding that of hiroshima and nagasaki.
“These crimes that Hamas-ISIS is committing today in Gaza, will tomorrow be committed in Paris, New York and everywhere around the world. World leaders must condemn Hamas-ISIS and not Israel,” Netanyahu said.
Linking Hamas to ISIS and using them as synonyms! Bullshit. HAMAS is a LIBERATION group, fighting with the occupying force for their freedom and dignity. And the occupying force is none other than the illegitimate state of Israel. I am appalled by the audacity of this devil in human disguise to lecture and dictate the world to condemn Hamas and not Israel.