Israel-Gaza war: Emmanuel Macron urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza, Hamas says Israeli

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Israel-Gaza war: Emmanuel Macron urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza, Hamas says Israeli strikes hit hospitals

Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron says, as deadly Israeli air strikes hit three Gaza hospitals and a school, according to Palestinian officials.

It comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in his strongest comments to date on civilian suffering, denounced the number of Palestinians killed.

Gaza health authorities said that at least 11,078 Palestinians, including 4,506 children, have died since Israel launched its retaliation for the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.

Israel says about 1,200 Israelis were killed in the October 7 attack.

This figure was revised down by Israel's foreign ministry on November 10 from a previously reported 1,400.

Israel has rejected growing calls for a ceasefire, saying it would not stop until about 240 hostages taken by Hamas were returned, pushing further into Gaza City in its ground invasion aiming to eliminate the militant group.

Here are the latest developments:

Israeli strikes hit multiple hospitals and a school in Gaza City, say Palestinian officials
Blinken says 'far too many' Palestinians killed
Medecins Sans Frontieres calls for attacks against hospitals to stop
Gaza health system at 'point of no return': Red Cross
Thousands flee north Gaza, including from Al Shifa hospital after strike
Hamas says it fired rockets into Israel
UN rights chief urges probe of Israel's 'high-impact' weapons
French president urges ceasefire from Israel
Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron has said in an interview with the BBC.

Mr Macron said there was "no justification" for the bombing and that a ceasefire would benefit Israel.

He said that France "clearly condemns" the "terrorist" actions of Hamas, but that while recognising 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 ceasefire, 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 would exploit a truce to regroup.

Speaking the day after a humanitarian aid conference in Paris about the war in Gaza, Mr 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 ceasefire, 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.

In a statement responding to Mr Macron's comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 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," Mr Netanyahu said.

On Monday France's foreign affairs ministry said of the eight French nationals who have been missing since Hamas' October 7 attack, some have since been confirmed to have been taken hostage.

Another French national who had been reported missing has now been confirmed dead, bringing the total of French victims of the Hamas attack to 40.

Israeli strikes hit hospitals and school, say Palestinian officials
Israeli air strikes have hit Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, on Friday, killing at least one person and wounding others sheltering there, Palestinian officials said.

Officials said other strikes damaged parts of the Indonesian Hospital and reportedly set fire to the Rantissi paediatric and cancer hospital in the northern part of Gaza, where Israel claims Hamas militants are concentrated.
Israeli tanks in part of the ground invasion into the enclave have taken up positions around the Rantissi, Al Quds and Nasser Children's hospitals, raising concern for patients, doctors and evacuees there.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli snipers at Al Quds hospital killed one person and injured 28, primarily children.

The Israeli military claimed Hamas was "operating from within the hospital" following reports of deaths from the sniper fire.

Many Palestinians who had not left the northern part of the Strip upon Israeli warnings have fled to hospitals to shelter.

"Israel is now launching a war on Gaza City hospitals," said Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, director of Al Shifa hospital.

Mr Selmeyah later said that at least 20 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Al Buraq school in Gaza city, where people whose homes had been destroyed were sheltering.

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Israel-Gaza war: Emmanuel Macron urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza, Hamas says Israeli strikes hit hospitals
Posted 13h ago13 hours ago, updated 3h ago3 hours ago
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Israel has continued its heavy bombardment of the Gaza Strip, hitting refugee camps, schools and hospitals in retaliation for the October 7 Hamas attack. (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein)
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Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron says, as deadly Israeli air strikes hit three Gaza hospitals and a school, according to Palestinian officials.

It comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in his strongest comments to date on civilian suffering, denounced the number of Palestinians killed.

Gaza health authorities said that at least 11,078 Palestinians, including 4,506 children, have died since Israel launched its retaliation for the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas.

Israel says about 1,200 Israelis were killed in the October 7 attack.

This figure was revised down by Israel's foreign ministry on November 10 from a previously reported 1,400.

Israel has rejected growing calls for a ceasefire, saying it would not stop until about 240 hostages taken by Hamas were returned, pushing further into Gaza City in its ground invasion aiming to eliminate the militant group.

Here are the latest developments:

Israeli strikes hit multiple hospitals and a school in Gaza City, say Palestinian officials
Blinken says 'far too many' Palestinians killed
Medecins Sans Frontieres calls for attacks against hospitals to stop
Gaza health system at 'point of no return': Red Cross
Thousands flee north Gaza, including from Al Shifa hospital after strike
Hamas says it fired rockets into Israel
UN rights chief urges probe of Israel's 'high-impact' weapons
French president urges ceasefire from Israel
Israel must stop bombing Gaza and killing civilians, French President Emmanuel Macron has said in an interview with the BBC.

Mr Macron said there was "no justification" for the bombing and that a ceasefire would benefit Israel.

Emmanuel Macron and Benjamin Netanyahu lean in close to each other for a handshake and embrace

He said that France "clearly condemns" the "terrorist" actions of Hamas, but that while recognising 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 ceasefire, 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 would exploit a truce to regroup.

Speaking the day after a humanitarian aid conference in Paris about the war in Gaza, Mr 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 ceasefire, 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.

In a statement responding to Mr Macron's comments, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said 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," Mr Netanyahu said.

On Monday France's foreign affairs ministry said of the eight French nationals who have been missing since Hamas' October 7 attack, some have since been confirmed to have been taken hostage.

Another French national who had been reported missing has now been confirmed dead, bringing the total of French victims of the Hamas attack to 40.

Israeli strikes hit hospitals and school, say Palestinian officials
Israeli air strikes have hit Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, on Friday, killing at least one person and wounding others sheltering there, Palestinian officials said.

Officials said other strikes damaged parts of the Indonesian Hospital and reportedly set fire to the Rantissi paediatric and cancer hospital in the northern part of Gaza, where Israel claims Hamas militants are concentrated.

An aerial view shows the compound of Al-Shifa hospital.

Israeli tanks in part of the ground invasion into the enclave have taken up positions around the Rantissi, Al Quds and Nasser Children's hospitals, raising concern for patients, doctors and evacuees there.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli snipers at Al Quds hospital killed one person and injured 28, primarily children.

The Israeli military claimed Hamas was "operating from within the hospital" following reports of deaths from the sniper fire.

Many Palestinians who had not left the northern part of the Strip upon Israeli warnings have fled to hospitals to shelter.

"Israel is now launching a war on Gaza City hospitals," said Mohammad Abu Selmeyah, director of Al Shifa hospital.

Mr Selmeyah later said that at least 20 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Al Buraq school in Gaza city, where people whose homes had been destroyed were sheltering.

injured women in wheelchairs being pushed along on road

Israel has claimed Hamas militants have hidden command centres and tunnels beneath Al Shifa and other hospitals, allegations Hamas denies.

The Indonesian Hospital on Friday categorically refuted claims by the IDF alleging Hamas was using its basement as a central command and control centre in a lengthy video posted to social media platform X, stating that there were no tunnels beneath it and the accusations were "false and misleading".

Attacking health establishments and units, including hospitals, the wounded and sick, medical staff, and means of transport is considered a violation of international humanitarian law.

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been struggling to cope in the war now entering its second month, with medical supplies, clean water and fuel to power generators running out due to Israel's blockade, and surgery being done without anaesthetics.

Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra said Israel had bombed Al Shifa hospital buildings five times since Thursday night, including the maternity department and the outpatient clinics building.

Israel has warned people to evacuate but Mr Qidra said it was impossible.

We are talking about 45 babies in incubators, 52 children in intensive care units, hundreds of wounded and patients, and tens of thousands of displaced people," he said.

Indonesia confirmed parts of the Indonesian Hospital had been damaged, condemning the blasts without saying who was responsible.

The World Health Organization confirmed that there was significant bombardment at Al Shifa hospital, as well as Rantissi hospital, which it said was the only hospital providing care for children in north Gaza.

MSF calls for attacks against hospitals to stop
In a statement released today from humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), they say many of their staff working in Gaza's hospitals have had to stop due to "attacks" or the "risk of being attacked at any time".

They say the attacks against Al Shifa Hospital have dramatically intensified into what staff have called a "catastrophic situation".

Attacks on medical facilities, ambulances, staff and patients must stop. Al Shifa hospital is the main operational health facility in Gaza city providing emergency and surgical care, with hundreds of patients and civilians inside," the statement said.

One MSF nurse was on his way to work at Al Shifa hospital when it was hit.

"All of us were horrified, some of us threw ourselves to the ground," Maher Sharif said.

"I saw dead bodies, including women and children. This scene was horrific and made all of us cry. Medical staff were terrified, trying to save their lives and their families."

While a number of patients remain inside the facility, some in critical condition and unable to move, others have joined the throngs of refugees heading for Gaza's south.

In their statement the MSF say there are still caretakers inside the hospital helping those who cannot escape.

"This is a war against hospitals," Arunn Jegan, Humanitarian affairs lead for MSF Australia, said.

"This is the fourth attack on hospitals in the last 48 hours, and we have lost all contact with our medical teams working on the ground. We need a ceasefire right now.

'The Israeli military cannot continue to make Gaza into a graveyard for children. Saving lives right now means first and foremost sparing the lives that remain, the wounded, and the hundreds of newly orphaned kids."

Blinken says 'far too many' Palestinians killed
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has denounced the soaring number of Palestinians killed in Gaza, saying more needs to be done to protect the civilians.

In his strongest comments to date on civilians bearing the brunt of the war, Mr Blinken welcomed the four-hour humanitarian Israeli pauses the White House announced on Thursday but said further action was required to protect Gaza's civilians.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi as he wrapped up a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Asia, he said: "Far too many Palestinians have been killed; far too many have suffered these past weeks."

"And we want to do everything possible to prevent harm to them and to maximise the assistance that gets to them."

The White House said on Thursday that Israel agreed to pause military operations in parts of northern Gaza for four hours a day, and the army said Palestinians on Friday were allowed to leave over seven hours along a road south, but there was no sign of a let-up in the fighting that has laid waste to the seaside enclave.

Mr Blinken said the US had concrete plans to get more humanitarian assistance in.

"This is a process, and it's not always flipping a light switch, but we have seen progress. We just need to see more of it," he said.

Gaza health system at 'point of no return': Red Cross
The Red Cross said on Friday Gaza's health system had "reached a point of no return" and called for medical facilities and workers to be protected.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said the "sharpened hostilities" was severely affecting hospitals and ambulances.

"Overstretched, running on thin supplies and increasingly unsafe, the healthcare system in Gaza has reached a point of no return," it said.

The ICRC pointed out that children's hospitals had not been spared from the violence, including the Al Nasser Hospital, which had been heavily damaged, and Al Rantissi Hospital, which had been forced to cease operations.

"Any military operation around hospitals must consider the presence of civilians, who are protected under international humanitarian law," ICRC said.

"The rules of war are clear. Hospitals are specially protected facilities under international humanitarian law."

The WHO said earlier that half of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip, at least 20 out of 36, were no longer operational.

'Cynical' pauses not coordinated with UN
On Thursday, Israel agreed to daily four-hour pauses to allow evacuations.

UN humanitarian office spokesperson Jens Laerke said on Friday that the four-hour battle pauses had not been coordinated with the UN.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinian territories, further criticised the pauses, calling them "very cynical and cruel".

"There has been continuous bombings, 6,000 bombs every week on the Gaza Strip, on this tiny piece of land where people are trapped and the destruction is massive," she told reporters on Friday.

"There won’t be any way back after what Israel is doing to the Gaza Strip.

“So four hours ceasefire, yes, to let people breathe and to remember what is the sound of life without bombing before starting bombing them again. It's very cynical and cruel."

At least three Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on a road used by displaced Palestinians heading south in the enclave, Hamas-affiliated media cited Gaza health officials as saying.

Hamas says it fired rockets on Israel

Hamas said it fired rockets deep in Israel on Friday, triggering sirens in Tel Aviv and surrounding areas, in what the militant group described as a response to mounting civilian deaths in the Gaza war.

Medics reported two women in Tel Aviv suffered shrapnel wounds.

The Israeli military said about 9,500 missiles, rockets and drones have been fired at Israel from Gaza and other fronts since October 7, 2,000 of them shot down by air defences designed to ignore projectiles on a course to land harmlessly in open areas.

It said 12 per cent of the rockets had fallen short within Palestinian territory, and that the launches had dropped off significantly since Israeli forces invaded the Strip.

UN rights chief urges probe of Israel's 'high-impact' weapons
UN human rights chief Volker Turk has called for an investigation of what he called the "indiscriminate effect" of Israel's bombardment and shelling in densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking in the Jordanian capital on Friday, Mr Turk said Israel "must immediately end the use of such methods and means of warfare and the attacks must be investigated".

"The extensive Israeli bombardment of Gaza, including the use of high-impact explosive weapons in densely populated areas … is clearly having a devastating humanitarian and human rights impact," Mr Turk said.
He said the high levels of civilian casualties and the wide destruction of civilian infrastructure raised "serious concerns that these amount to disproportionate attacks in breach of international humanitarian law".

Mr Turk pointed to strikes on and near hospitals as "particularly intense", adding that any use of civilians or civilian structures by Palestinian armed groups to shield themselves contravenes the laws of war.

But he said such conduct "does not absolve Israel of its obligation to ensure that civilians are spared".

He also called for Israel to take immediate measures to protect Palestinians in the West Bank, where violence has been escalating between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers and settlers, killing at least 176 Palestinians.

On Friday, three Palestinian human rights groups said they asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel, accusing it of committing war crimes including genocide by striking densely populated civilian areas of the Gaza Strip, Israel's siege of the territory, and the displacement of the population.

Israel, which is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction, did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

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