Macron tells Netanyahu ‘too many civilian losses’ in Gaza bombardment

As Paris prepared to provide more humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, French President Emmanuel Macron told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that there had been “too many civilian losses” in Israel’s war in Gaza.

After a surprise attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people and the capture of hundreds more, Israel has declared its intention to destroy the Palestinian armed group.

According to the UN, the air and land offensive killed more than 13, 000 people in Gaza, 70% of whom were women and children. Additionally, there have been persistent attacks on hospitals, schools, and refugee camps.

The French president reminded Netanyahu of the “absolute necessity to distinguish terrorists from the population” and the significance of achieving an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, according to a statement from Macron’s office on Sunday.

According to the statement, Macron also denounced violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank’s occupation. Since Israel started its war in Gaza, there have been more than 200 Palestinian deaths.

The French leader urged calm and expressed his “great concern over the escalation in violence against Palestinian civilians” in the West Bank, which was under occupation.

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, who oversees the West Bank, was also a subject of Macron’s conversation.

“The Palestinian Authority and all countries in the region must unequivocally and with the utmost firmness condemn the terrorist attack carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7,” he advised Abbas.

Macron announced new humanitarian aid for Gaza earlier on Sunday, amid mounting starvation concerns.

The president announced that France would contribute to the November 23 and 30 European Union medical aid flights and send an aircraft with more than 10 tonnes of medical supplies at the beginning of the week.

Additionally, it is preparing the helicopter carrier Dixmude, a second hospital ship that will soon reach Egypt.

The Tonnerre, a French helicopter carrier with two operating theaters and about 60 beds, has already arrived in the area.

“France is mobilizing all of its resources to aid in the evacuation of injured and ill children from the Gaza Strip to its hospitals,” the statement continued.

Up to 50 kids could be flown to French hospitals for treatment, according to Macron later on X, formerly Twitter.