Opening Gaza aid conference, Macron calls for humanitarian pause, reiterates Israel’s right to defend itself

French President Emmanuel Macron opens a Gaza aid conference with an appeal for Israel to protect civilians as it fights the Hamas terror group, saying “all lives have equal worth” and that fighting terrorism “can never be carried out without rules.”

The gathering in Paris brings together officials from Western and Arab nations, the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations, with the aim of providing urgent aid to civilians in the Gaza Strip that is being pounded by Israel in its war against Hamas, sparked by the terror group’s devastating October 7 massacre.

Israeli authorities weren’t invited but have been informed of the talks, Macron’s office said.

Macron reiterates calls for a humanitarian pause in Israel’s operations. He said that by attacking Israel on Oct. 7, Hamas “shouldered the responsibility for exposing Palestinians to terrible consequences,” and he again defended Israel’s right to defend itself.

But Macron also stresses that civilians must be protected. “It’s absolutely essential. It is nonnegotiable,” he says.

“All lives have equal worth and there are no double standards for those of us with universal and humanist values,” he says.

“Fighting terrorism can never be carried out without rules. Israel knows that. The trap of terrorism is the same for all of us: giving in to violence and renouncing our values,” he adds.