Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron told the BBC in an interview published late on Friday.
Macron said there was “no justification” for the bombing and saying a cease-fire would benefit Israel.He said that France “clearly condemns” the “terrorist” actions of Hamas, but that while recognizing Israel’s right to protect itself, “we do urge them to stop this bombing” in Gaza.When asked if he wanted other leaders — including in the United Sates and Britain — to join his calls for a cease-fire, Macron said: “I hope they will.”Israel has faced growing calls for restraint in its month-long war with Hamas but says the Gaza-based militants, who attacked Israel on Oct. 7 and took hostages, would exploit a truce to regroup.In a statement responding to Macron’s comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that world leaders should be condemning Hamas, and not Israel.“These crimes that Hamas (is) committing today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York and anywhere in the world,” Netanyahu said.Macron’s interview to the BBC aired a day after a humanitarian conference on Gaza was held in Paris.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 cease-fire, which will allow 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.Israel must not lose chance for peace with Arab world: Germany
Israel must not lose a “historic opportunity” for peace with Arab states due to its war against Hamas, Germany’s foreign minister said Friday as she embarked on a trip to the region.
Annalena Baerbock is making her third visit to the Middle East since Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack from the Gaza Strip, which sparked a conflict with Israel.
“In this almost unresolvable turmoil, it is crucial not to lose sight of the big picture,” she said .“Israel’s historic opportunity for peace with its Arab neighbors must not be lost — because that is precisely the goal of the terrorists.
“And even in our efforts to secure the release of the hostages, humanitarian access to Gaza or the prevention of a regional spillover of violence — we only have a chance of success if we pull together with the Gulf states.”
She also added that “only a return to the promise of living side by side — in two states — can bring Israelis and Palestinians alike a life of peace, security and dignity.”
A Foreign Ministry source said topics on the agenda during Baerbock’s tour will include efforts to free German nationals, several of whom are among the hostages taken by Hamas, as well as the “dramatic” humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Berlin has condemned the militants’ attack and said Israel has the right to defend itself.
Germany has also been among countries that called for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting to alleviate the suffering of people in Gaza.
USAID-
More than 1,000 officials in the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed an open letter urging the Biden administration to call for an immediate cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, according to a copy of the letter seen by Reuters.
The letter is latest sign of unease within the US government over President Joe Biden’s unwavering support for Israel in its response to the Oct. 7 attacks by Palestinian Hamas militants that killed 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians.
Washington has rebuffed calls from Arab and Palestinian leaders and others to call for Israel to halt its assault on the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip which has killed more than 11,000 Palestinians, including over 4,500 children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
“(W)e are alarmed and disheartened at the numerous violations of international law; laws which aim to protect civilians, medical and media personnel, as well as schools, hospitals, and places of worship,” the letter reads.
“We believe that further catastrophic loss of human life can only be avoided if the United States Government calls for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.”
The letter, published on Nov. 2, had now garnered 1,029 signatures from staff of the US aid agency. Signatories’ names are hidden but the letter shows it was signed by officials in many of the agency’s bureaus in Washington as well as officials posted around the world.
“We appreciate the ongoing dialogue we have with our dedicated staff and partners, and continue to welcome our team to share their opinions with leadership,” USAID Spokesperson Jessica Jennings said in an emailed response.
It comes amid protests in the United States and elsewhere calling for a cease-fire, and widespread concern among officials over the US response to the Middle East crisis, which has included the public resignation of one State Department official who said he opposed continued lethal assistance to Israel.
More than 500 people who worked on Biden’s 2020 election campaign on Thursday published a letter, seen by Reuters, calling for the president to support an immediate cease-fire, and a group of congressional staffers held a vigil on Wednesday at the Capitol demanding a cease-fire, images on social media showed.
A source familiar with the matter said there has been “deep frustration” among officials in the aftermath of Oct. 7 and how the administration has given what the sources see as a “carte-blanche” to Israel, allowing it conduct a military offensive in Gaza.
The source said they were aware of at least four cables that have been drafted for the State Department’s internal “dissent channel,” which allows diplomats to raise concerns about policy anonymously with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The State Department does not confirm the existence of dissent cables.
The department has held a number of listening sessions in the past month, including in US missions in the Middle East, two sources who attended the sessions said.
Deputy State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Thursday it has been important for Blinken and other leaders to “engage directly with the workforce,” a reference to listening sessions held with concerned staff.
“We also recognize that this has been a trying time for our workforce,” Patel said.
“We have ensured that our missions around the world, particularly those that might be more heightened attention right now to what’s happening in the Middle East have access to those resources and are able to interface with department leaders about not just what’s happening in the region, but the ways that this department can continue to serve them.”
