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 recognise 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.”