Israel faced mounting pressure from western allies to end the killing of civilians in Gaza as its bombardment and land offensive forced most hospitals to close and pushed the strip’s health system to the brink of collapse.
French president Emmanuel Macron on Friday urged Israel to stop killing babies and women, as he became the first leader of a big western country to call for a ceasefire after more than a month of heavy fighting.
“De facto — today, civilians are bombed — de facto,” he said in an interview with the BBC. “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.”