Emmanuel Macron promised Friday to the families of French hostages from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip that France would do everything “to ensure that they return safe and sound to France”, reported the Élysée. “I say it here to everyone: France is not abandoning its own. We are doing everything possible to obtain the release and return of our compatriots. The Nation stands by their side,” declared the Head of State on X (formerly Twitter) following a videoconference with these families.
According to the presidency, he “assured them of his full mobilization as well as that of all state services to obtain their release”. “Everything will be done to ensure that they return safe and sound to France. The President of the Republic reiterated to the families his support and that of all French people in the face of this terrible ordeal and his determination to fight tirelessly against all forms of terrorism,” she added.
I was just able to speak with families of French hostages held by Hamas.
I say it here to everyone: France is not abandoning its own people. We are doing everything possible to obtain the release and return of our compatriots.
The Nation stands with them.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 20, 2023
“Intense discussions” for the release of the hostages are underway
Emmanuel Macron, surrounded in particular by his Minister of Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna, the Secretary General of the Élysée Alexis Kohler and his diplomatic advisor Emmanuel Bonne, held this videoconference at midday from the presidential palace. Catherine Colonna had already met in person on Sunday in Tel Aviv with families of French victims of the unprecedented attack launched on October 7 by Hamas against Israel. Following this attack, 28 French people died, and seven others are still missing, including some held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
In all, more than 1,400 people have been killed on Israeli territory by Hamas men since October 7, the majority of civilians mowed down by bullets, burned alive or dead from mutilation on the first day of the attack, according to Israeli authorities. . Hamas kidnapped 203 hostages, including foreigners from more than twenty countries.
President Macron said on Tuesday that “intense discussions” were underway to obtain the release of the hostages. “They are moving forward, we are monitoring these discussions hour by hour,” he added, stressing that Paris had “contacts, obviously, with the Israeli authorities”, but also with “intermediate friendly powers with Hamas”.
He had assured of his “support” and his “affection” the family of Mia Shem, a young Franco-Israeli kidnapped, a video of which was broadcast on Monday by the Palestinian Islamist organization, and all the relatives of the people missing since the ‘attack. Mia Shem’s mother on Tuesday begged “world leaders” to free her daughter.