French President Emmanuel Macron reached out to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to offer clarifications on his recent statements regarding the conflict in Gaza.
Macron’s call appeared to be an attempt to mitigate the impact of his previous critical remarks about Israel’s military actions against Hamas, made on Friday.
In an interview with the BBC, Macron stated that there was no justification for Israel’s alleged bombing of civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
He called for Israel to halt its actions and emphasized the need for a ceasefire in Gaza, a proposition Israel has rejected, citing it as a potential victory for the Hamas group.
Herzog’s office revealed that Macron contacted the Israeli president to assert that his intention was not to accuse Israel of deliberately targeting innocent civilians in its campaign against Hamas.
Macron further clarified that his comments were in relation to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which he considers a significant concern.
The statement from the Israeli President’s Residence added that Macron affirmed his unequivocal support for Israel’s right and duty to self-defense. He also expressed backing for Israel’s fight against Hamas.
Macron reiterated his commitment to advocating for the immediate release of hostages and mentioned his ongoing efforts to assist in this critical matter.
