Macron finally calls for ceasefire, “Israel must stop killing babies and women in Gaza”

SHAH ALAM - After a month of giving Israel his full support for attacks onto Palestine, French President Emmanuel Macron has finally called for a ceasefire stating that there is “no justification” for the bombings.

Speaking in an exclusive interview BBC with Élysée Palace, he said Israel must stop killing babies and women in Gaza and that a ceasefire would actually benefit them.

"We do urge them to stop this bombing in Gaza,” he said but still adding a disclaimer that France still recognises Israel's right to protect itself.

When asked if he wanted other leaders - including in the United States and the United Kingdom, two countries that have been strongly supporting Israel’s bombing activities - to join his calls for a ceasefire, he said: "I hope they will."

Israel claims it attacks military targets in line with international law and takes steps to reduce civilian casualties by issuing warnings ahead of strikes and calling on people to evacuate.

As of Nov 10, at least 11,708 Palestinians have been killed including 4,506 children in Gaza and 183 killed in the occupied West Bank. Injured Palestinians account for 27,490 people while 2,700 are still missing. The number of Israeli’s death stands at 1,405.

Yesterday, US State Secretary Antony Blinken also spoke out on the asterocities saying that “far too many' Palestinians killed as Israel battles Hamas in Gaza” and more needs to be done to protect the civilians.

Macron, meanwhile who was speaking a day after a humanitarian aid conference in Paris about the war in Gaza, 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".

"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,” he said.

However, Macron said it was not his role to judge whether international law had been broken.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to respond to Macron's comments, saying nations should condemn Hamas not Israel.

A statement, he said these “crimes” committed today in Gaza by Hamas will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and all over the world.

Macron has outright disagreed with this, stating that Israel’s method of protecting itself by having a large bombing of Gaza was creating "resentment and bad feelings" in the region that would prolong the conflict.

After a month of Israeli bombardment and nearly two weeks after they launched a major ground offensive into the territory, Gaza's government said 1.5 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

Israel today said it would start daily four-hour military pauses in parts of northern Gaza as it continues its attacks, with its defence minister stressing that the pauses would be "localised" and would "not detract from the warfighting".