Macron: Israel must stop bombing babies, ladies and old people in Gaza

French President Emmanuel Macron tells the BBC there is “no justification” for Israel’s bombing of “these babies, these ladies, these old people” and reiterates his call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Macron expresses his hope that other Western leaders will join his call.

He claims the “clear conclusion” from the Western governments and others who participated in a Gaza humanitarian aid conference in Paris earlier this week 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 [the] 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 tells BBC during the lengthy interview.

“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,” he says.

Macron rejects the notion that the best way for Israel to “protect [itself] is having a large bombing of Gaza,” saying it was creating “resentment and bad feelings” in the region.