Macron Contacts Israeli President After Controversial Remarks

Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, made another attempt on Sunday to clarify his statements from Friday, telling Isaac Herzog, the President of Israel, that he did not intend to accuse Israel of deliberately harming Palestinian civilians during its fight against Hamas. According to the Times of Israel, the office of the Israeli President stated that Macron also emphasized his clear support for Israel's 'right and duty' to defend itself and for Israel's war against Hamas. Macron's call to Herzog came after he described Israel's bombings in Gaza as inhumane in an interview with the BBC on Friday, stating that these attacks must be stopped immediately. Macron said, 'In Gaza, civilians, including innocent women and children, are being killed. These bombings have no legitimacy and must be stopped immediately.' He added, 'Israel has the right to defend itself, but this right should not come at the cost of Palestinian civilian lives.' Part of the statement from the Israeli President's office noted that Macron explained his comments during the interview were referring to the humanitarian situation, which remains a significant issue for him and many countries, and he also called for the immediate release of hostages. Hamas took approximately 240 hostages following its attack on Israel on October 7. The Times of Israel reported that Herzog found Macron's reported statements 'painful and distressing' in Israel and welcomed Macron's retraction in multiple statements and during his call with Herzog. Herzog told Macron that the Israeli army continues its actions in accordance with international law and that Israel is taking all possible measures to prevent harm to civilians. Herzog held Hamas responsible for civilian casualties in Gaza. Earlier, following a strong reaction from Israeli officials to Emmanuel Macron's comments in the BBC interview, a French source stated that the President of France never even implied that Israel deliberately targets civilians. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, in response to Emmanuel Macron's request to stop the bombings in Gaza, stated that the responsibility for civilian casualties in this conflict lies with Hamas. Netanyahu said in a statement, 'Israel does everything it can to avoid harming civilians, but Hamas uses them as human shields.' Hamas suddenly attacked residential areas in Israel near the Gaza border on October 7, killing many civilians. In response to this attack, Israel launched an offensive aimed at destroying the military capabilities of this group supported by the Islamic Republic. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, Japan, and the European Union.