French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that there is "no justification" for Israel bombing "these children, these women, these elderly" in the war against Hamas, and he repeated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Macron told the BBC, "There is no reason for that and no legitimacy, so we urge Israel to stop," expressing hope that other Western leaders would join his call.

Macron's comments were met with a response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that Hamas is responsible for the civilian casualties as a result of its destructive attack in southern Israel last month.

Netanyahu said in a statement from Israel: "While Israel is doing its utmost to refrain from harming civilians and calling on them to leave combat zones, Hamas and ISIS are doing their best to prevent them from leaving to safe areas and are using them as human shields," likening the movement that governs Gaza to the jihadist ISIS.

Netanyahu said that Hamas "holds our hostages cruelly – women, children, and the elderly – in a crime against humanity" and "uses schools, mosques, and hospitals as terror command centers."

He added: "The crimes that Hamas and ISIS will commit today in Gaza will be committed tomorrow in Paris, New York, and everywhere around the world. The Prime Minister added: "World leaders must condemn Hamas and ISIS, not Israel."

During the BBC interview, Macron said Israel has the right to protect itself after the October 7 massacres, and that France "clearly condemns" the Hamas-led cross-border attack in which Palestinian terrorists killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 240 hostages.

"We share the pains [of Israel]." Macron said on the sidelines of an international peace forum in Paris: "We share their desire to rid themselves of terrorism."
"We know what terrorism means in France." But he insisted that there is "no justification" for what he described as bombing civilians.

"This is extremely important for all of us because of our principles, because we are democrats." He added: "It is also important in the medium to long term for Israel’s own security, to recognize that everyone's life matters."

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says more than 11,000 people, most of them civilians, have been killed in the Israeli air and ground attack since the massacres.

Macron confirmed that all governments and relief agencies at the humanitarian aid conference held in Paris on Thursday agreed that a "humanitarian truce" followed by a "ceasefire" is the only way to protect civilians in Gaza.

When asked if Israel had violated international law, Macron replied: "I am not a judge. I am a head of state" who sought to be a "partner and friend" to Israel.

The French leader added that he does not agree that the best way for Israel "to protect [itself] is to carry out a large bombing of Gaza," noting that this creates "resentment and bad feelings" in the Middle East.

Macron is among Western leaders who have visited Israel since the attacks to show solidarity. During his visit to Israel, Macron called for expanding the international coalition against ISIS terrorism to also include fighting Hamas.

France voted in favor of a non-binding UN General Assembly resolution on October 27 calling for an immediate ceasefire and did not mention Hamas.