Alexandre Chauveau / Photo credits: ANNA MARGUERITAT / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
Emmanuel Macron will pay this Wednesday a national tribute to the 42 French victims who lost their lives during the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, 2023. A ceremony organized at Les Invalides, in the presence of the families of the victims, which despite its solemn character, provokes several controversies.
Four months, to the day, after the Hamas terrorist attack which left 1,200 dead in Israel, Emmanuel Macron will chair a ceremony this Wednesday to pay tribute to the 42 French victims, the six injured French people, the four freed hostages and the three people still missing and presumed hostages. 55 families will be present at Les Invalides to attend the tribute which, despite its solemn character, arouses several controversies.
Disturbances feared by Intelligence
The presence of LFI elected officials at Les Invalides does not please everyone. Manuel Bompard confirmed it, despite the frank opposition of the victims’ families, there is unease at the Élysée which invokes protocol but calls “everyone to appreciate the opportunity of their presence”.
Intelligence even mentions the risk of disruptions during the ceremony. The presence of Mathilde Panot and Danièle Obono in particular arouses great tensions. The first had refused to qualify Hamas as a terrorist organization, the second had made it a “resistance movement”.
A tribute organized too long after the attack
But beyond this disturbing presence, the four months which separate the attack from the tribute are debated, the delay being considered too long by many. The Élysée concedes having had to arbitrate between the different positions of the victims’ families. Priority was given to negotiations for the release of the hostages.
After the announcement by the Élysée of the upcoming organization of a “memorial time” for the French victims of the bombings in Gaza, new criticisms arose. A “at the same time” on the Hamas terrorist attack, considered unwelcome by some.