PARIS: Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron told the BBC in an interview published late on Friday.
Macron said there was 鈥渘o justification鈥� for the bombing and saying a cease-fire would benefit Israel.
He said that France 鈥渃learly condemns鈥� the 鈥渢errorist鈥� actions of Hamas, but that while recognizing Israel鈥檚 right to protect itself, 鈥渨e do urge them to stop this bombing鈥� in Gaza.
When asked if he wanted other leaders 鈥� including in the United Sates and Britain 鈥� to join his calls for a cease-fire, Macron said: 鈥淚 hope they will.鈥�
Israel has faced growing calls for restraint in its month-long war with Hamas but says the Gaza-based militants, who attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and took hostages, would exploit a truce to regroup.
In a statement responding to Macron鈥檚 comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that world leaders should be condemning Hamas, and not Israel.
鈥淭hese crimes that Hamas (is) committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and anywhere in the world,鈥� Netanyahu said.
Macron鈥檚 interview to the BBC aired a day after a humanitarian conference on Gaza was held in Paris.
Macron said the 鈥渃lear conclusion鈥� of all governments and agencies present at that summit was 鈥渢hat there is no other solution than first a humanitarian pause, going to a cease-fire, which will allow to protect... all civilians having nothing to do with terrorists.鈥�
鈥淒e facto 鈥� today, civilians are bombed 鈥� 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,鈥� he said.