French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Israel to halt its bombing of civilians in Gaza, stating that there is "no justification" for the attacks and that the resulting deaths are fuelling resentment.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC, Macron acknowledged Israel's right to self-defence following the October 7 Hamas attacks but expressed concern over the impact on innocent lives, including babies, women, and the elderly.
"So there is no reason for that and no legitimacy. So we do urge Israel to stop."
Macron unequivocally condemned the cross-border attacks by Palestinian groups, which Israel claims resulted in the death of 1,200 people, primarily civilians, with 240 others taken hostage.
In contrast, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported over 11,000 casualties, mainly civilians, due to Israel's air and ground assault.
"We do share [Israel's] pain. And we do share their willingness to get rid of terrorism," Macron said in the interview on the fringes of an international peace forum in Paris.
"We know what terrorism means in France." But he insisted there was "no justification" for the bombing of civilians.
"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," he added.
During a humanitarian aid conference in Paris, Macron disclosed that all participating governments and aid agencies unanimously agreed on the necessity for a "humanitarian pause" followed by a "ceasefire" to safeguard the lives of Gaza's civilians.
When asked whether Israel had breached international law, Macron replied: "I'm not a judge. I'm a head of state" who sought to be "a partner and a friend" to Israel.
The French leader voiced his disagreement with the notion that a large-scale bombing of Gaza is the most effective way for Israel to protect itself, asserting that such actions only breed resentment and negative sentiments in the Middle East.
This was creating "resentment and bad feelings" in the Middle East, he said.
Macron, along with other Western leaders, has visited Israel in a show of solidarity since the commencement of the attacks.
