International

Israel must stop killing babies, women in Gaza – Emmanuel Macron

Published

6 months ago

November 11, 2023

France President, Emmanuel Macron

Israel must stop killing babies, women in Gaza – Emmanuel Macron

In an exclusive interview at the Élysée Palace, he said there was “no justification” for the bombing, saying a ceasefire would benefit Israel.

While recognising Israel’s right to protect itself, “we do urge them to stop this bombing” in Gaza, he said.

But he also stressed that France “clearly condemns” the “terrorist” actions of Hamas.

France – like Israel, the US, the UK, and other Western nations – considers Hamas a terrorist organisation.

When asked if he wanted other leaders – including in the US and the UK – to join his calls for a ceasefire, he replied: “I hope they will.”

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

Speaking the day after a humanitarian aid conference in Paris about the war in Gaza, Mr Macron 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 it was not his role to judge whether international law had been broken.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded quickly to Mr Macron’s comments, saying nations should condemn Hamas, not Israel.

“The crimes that Hamas [is] committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and anywhere in the world,” a statement from Mr Netanyahu’s office read.

READ ALSO:

In a wide-ranging interview at the end of the first day of an annual Paris Peace Forum, President Macron also discussed:

Fears of violence spilling over from the Middle East into France, urging citizens of all faiths to be “united against antisemitism”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, saying it was France’s “duty” to help Ukraine – but suggesting there may come a time for “fair and good negotiations” with Moscow
Extremism online, saying Facebook’s parent company Meta and Google “just don’t deliver” on moderation
And the dangers of climate change, saying it was pushing people around the world toward “terrorism”.

Starting by discussing Gaza, Mr Macron said France “clearly condemns” Hamas’s attacks on Israel on 7 October which sparked the war. Hamas gunmen killed about 1,200 people and took 240 others hostage in its unprecedented cross-border assault it launched that day.

“We do share [Israel’s] pain. And we do share their willingness to get rid of terrorism. We know what terrorism means in France.” But he said there was “no justification” for the ongoing bombing of civilians in Gaza.

“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.”

When asked, he refused to say that Israel had broken international law in Gaza. “I’m not a judge. I’m a head of state,” he said, adding it would not be right to criticise Israel in this way – “a partner and a friend” – just a month after it was attacked.

But Mr Macron said he disagreed 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 that would prolong the conflict.

After a month of Israeli bombardment and nearly two weeks after Israel launched a major ground offensive into the territory, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said on Friday that 11,078 people had been killed, while 1.5 million had fled their homes.

Israel has said it will start daily four-hour military pauses in parts of northern Gaza as it continues its offensive. Its defence minister however stressed the pauses would be “localised” and would “not detract from the war fighting”.

Condemn antisemitism ‘without ambiguity’

Ahead of a march against antisemitism on Sunday which a large section of France’s political class will attend, President Macron called on all French citizens to condemn antisemitic acts “without ambiguity”.

READ ALSO:

He said France had probably Europe’s biggest Muslim community and a big Jewish community too, and with France and the rest of Europe seeing a big rise in antisemitism, all French citizens had to be united against antisemitism, and had to “share the pain or the compassion of Palestinians”.

Mr Macron then moved on to other global issues, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

He said if Russia were allowed to win its war, “you will have a new imperial power” in Europe, that could threaten other former Soviet states like Georgia and Kazakhstan, as well as the whole continent.

“Because, definitely, it’s imperialism and colonialism that Russia is doing [in Ukraine],” he said.

The French president said it was the “duty” of his country and all countries to support Ukraine in its defence. But he also said the next month would be critical, as it struggles to retake lost land in counteroffensive operations.

He said it was “not yet” time for Ukraine to come to the table, and stressed the decision to negotiate was Kyiv’s alone. But he added there may come a time to “have fair and good negotiations, and to come back to the table and find a solution with Russia”.

Mr Macron also discussed online extremism – a key topic at the Paris Peace Forum. He singled out Facebook’s parent company Meta and Google, saying the companies “simply don’t deliver” on promises they made to moderate hate speech on their platforms.

He said many online platforms lacked sufficient moderators for French language content, calling it a “shame”, and promising to “push them” on the issue – although he said TikTok had improved the number of moderators for its French language content.

And he said that climate change was causing terrorism in parts of the world, specifically mentioning the effects of global warming in lower water levels at Lake Chad in West Africa.

“As a consequence of climate change, a lot of families living as fishermen [suffered]… A lot of species just disappeared. And it created politics [that] pushed a lot of people to terrorism.”

But when asked if he ever felt depressed by the sheer number of issues facing the world, Mr Macron said he saw it as “a chance and an honour to have responsibilities [as head of state]”.

“We need international cooperation [to tackle global issues]… This is a unique chance.”

Israel must stop killing babies, women in Gaza – Emmanuel Macron

Source: BBC

Related Topics:Featured Gaza Israel Macron

Up Next

5 US servicemen killed as plane crashes in Mediterranean

Don't Miss

Tension as gunshots rock 2 Jewish schools in Canada

International

Gaza: France supports ICC decision seeking warrant arrest against Netanyahu

Published

8 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Gaza: France supports ICC decision seeking warrant arrest against Netanyahu

France broke away from its Western allies and expressed support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) after the court announced its decision to seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defence minister and Hamas leaders.

“Regarding Israel, it will be up to the court’s Pre-Trial Chamber to decide whether to issue these warrants, after examining the evidence put forward by the Prosecutor to support his accusations,” the French foreign ministry said Monday.

READ ALSO:

“France supports the International Criminal Court, its independence, and the fight against impunity in all situations.”
Paris also said it has been warning “for many months” the need for strict compliance with international humanitarian laws and “in particular of the unacceptable level of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip and the lack of humanitarian access.”

France’s move marks a major split between its position and that of its Western allies, including the UK, Italy, and US — where President Joe Biden called the decision “outrageous.”

France has been one of the few Western countries willing to take a tougher stance on Israel, including criticizing the US decision to veto ceasefire resolutions in the UN Security Council early on and calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Gaza: France supports ICC decision seeking warrant arrest against Netanyahu

International

UK deports YouTuber Tiamiyu who claimed Nigerians jet out under study disguise

Published

16 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Emdee Tiamiyu

UK deports YouTuber Tiamiyu who claimed Nigerians jet out under study disguise

The United Kingdom has deported Nigerian YouTuber Emdee Tiamiyu to Nigeria based on allegations of his involvement in a huge fraud.

Tiamiyu became a controversial figure when he granted the BBC an interview saying many Nigerians disguise with student visas to emigrate to the UK not for academic pursuit but to work and bring their families to the country.

This interview reportedly influenced the UK government’s decision to impose restrictions on Nigerian students, specifically barring them from bringing family members to the UK unless they are enrolled in PhD programmes.

Tiamiyu was earlier arrested on allegations of fraud, a case that has sparked widespread discussions across social media platforms.

READ ALSO:

He was accused of defrauding the UK government of £160,000, funds that were intended for resettlement purposes but allegedly used by Tiamiyu to construct a house in his native Ogun State in Nigeria. The UK government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the deportation or the specifics of the fraud allegations.

The situation has potential implications for bilateral relations and the international student community in the UK.

As the news of Tiamiyu’s deportation circulates, reactions on social media have been mixed.

UK deports YouTuber Tiamiyu who claimed Nigerians jet out under study disguise

International

Tragic moose attack claims life of photographer in Homer, Alaska

Published

17 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Tragic moose attack claims life of photographer in Homer, Alaska

In a heartbreaking incident in Homer, Alaska, a 70-year-old man, Dale Chorman, was fatally attacked by a mother moose while attempting to photograph her newborn calves on Sunday. Chorman, accompanied by a friend, was walking through the brush searching for the moose and her offspring when the protective mother charged at them.

According to Alaska State Troopers, the moose kicked Chorman, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred around 11:52 a.m., and by the time first responders arrived, the moose had already left the area. Chorman’s family has expressed a wish that the animal not be found, highlighting the tragic and natural aspect of the encounter.

READ ALSO:

This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of approaching wildlife, especially mothers with their young. Moose calving season, which runs from mid-May to mid-June, is a particularly sensitive period for these animals. Wildlife experts and authorities have long urged the public to maintain a safe distance from wildlife to avoid such tragic encounters.

Dale Chorman is remembered by his family as a loving husband, devoted father, and cherished friend, leaving behind a community that deeply mourns his loss. His death underscores the importance of respecting wildlife and the inherent risks of close encounters with these animals.