French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called for the "resumption" of negotiations for the release of hostages who remain detained in the Gaza Strip since the Hamas attack on southern Israel. Macron, speaking via video during a gathering of hostages' relatives in Tel Aviv, stated, "The French nation is determined to ensure the release of all hostages. France does not abandon its own. Therefore, we must repeatedly resume negotiations for their release."
He added, "Do not surrender, do not ever despair because we do not accept and will not accept any sacrifice of the hostages. Therefore, we will do everything, and you can count on me to bring them all home to us."
Three French nationals are still "missing" and are likely being held in Gaza. The Israeli army announced the death of French-Israeli Eliya Toldano, who was abducted from the "Nova Tribe" music festival, where he attended with his French-Israeli girlfriend Mia Shim, who was also kidnapped but later released as part of a truce agreement. In this context, President Macron said, "We are saddened by the death of Eliya, who was killed by his captors in Gaza."
His address was broadcast on large screens during a gathering in Tel Aviv in support of the hostages and their families, attended by thousands of people. After the broadcast, the audience chanted in French, "Now! Now! Now!" Israeli military operations in Gaza since the start of the war have resulted in the death of 23,843 people, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the region.
