Emmanuel Macron recalled that France had “lost 41 of its children” in the October 7 Hamas terror attacks against Israel.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that a national tribute would be held on February 7 to the victims of the Hamas terror attackq in Israel, and in particular to the 41 French citizens who lost their lives on October 7.
“On February 7, at the monument to the victims of terrorism located on the esplanade des Invalides in Paris, I will pay tribute to these victims alongside their loved ones, their families and all those who wish to join us there,’’ Macron told a press conference at the Elysée palace on Tuesday. This commemoration will take place 4 months to the day after the Hamas massacres against southern Israel communities.
The president recalled that France had “lost 41 of its children” in these attacks, and that it still had “three hostages” in the Gaza Strip. “We are fighting tooth and nail with the Israeli authorities, with Qatar, which has a decisive role to play in this matter, and with several other colleagues to free them.’’
The president gravely, recalling that this was “the deadliest terrorist act since the Nice attack” in July 2016.
Macron refused to make any specific announcements on these extremely delicate and moving issues, but hoped that the “next few days, the next few weeks” would lead to their release.
Israeli officials said 1,139 people were killed in the Hamas October 7 attacks in southern Israel, among them 695 Israeli civilians including 36 children. Terrorist stook some 240 hostages during the attacks, and 136 are still held in Gaza.
Deliveries of medicine for Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians were expected to start arriving in Gaza on Wednesday under a deal mediated by Qatar and France.
Macron also told reporters on Tuesday that Paris “decided not to join” strikes carried out by the United States and Britain against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen to “avoid any escalation” of violence in the region.