French President Emmanuel Macron called this Thursday for unity in the face of what is happening in Israel, showing solidarity with Israel and saying that Paris will do everything to ensure that the 17 missing French people (Most are believed to be Hamas hostages) “return safely.” He also issued a warning to those who “confuse the Palestinian cause with the justification of terrorism: They are making a moral, grave and strategic mistake.” he said, clearly referring to La Francia Insumisa, a left-wing party whose ambiguity in condemning Hamas’ attacks has angered the rest of the parties.
In a television message the President has confirmed the deaths of 13 citizens of the country. It is the first time he has spoken out since last Saturday’s Hamas attacks, although he, along with other European leaders, had already shown solidarity with Israel.
Before the embassy, Macron met with the opposition parties, a meeting, as he said, of “pluralism, harmony and unity.” It lasted two hours and the formations expressed their concern to Macron about the fate of the missing. He let them know that “communications had been made with intermediaries” to try to get them released. Paris’ position is not to negotiate with terrorists.
“In the times we live in, we must condemn terrorism and denounce all forms of hate”said Macron in a message that lasted barely 10 minutes. Macron wanted to project an image of unity at a time when anti-Semitic attacks are increasing in the country (hundreds since Saturday) and especially after the controversy opened by the radical Left Party La France Insoumise (LFI), which has not classified Hamas as a terrorist group Nor has it explicitly condemned the attacks. This position has caused much controversy and deepened the rift within the left-wing coalition they lead in the assembly, which includes the Socialist Party.
France fears that the conflict will be imported into its territory: since Saturday there were a hundred anti-Semitic acts 41 were arrested for this, as Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed. In France is home to the most important Jewish community in Europe: half a million people. There are also 10% Muslims. According to Darmanin, there is currently no terrorist threat.
In order to avoid incidents, the Minister decided to ban all pro-Palestinian demonstrations and has ordered the arrest of people who organize concentrations in this regard contrary to this order. One was planned for this Thursday in Paris. Many people gathered in the Plaza de la República, where the police had to intervene.
Meanwhile, the grief of the relatives of the missing French-Israeli citizens is growing. They held a press conference in Tel Aviv this Thursday where they asked Emmanuel Macron for help and pleaded with him to “intervene for the release” of the prisoners. Four children are among those whose whereabouts are unknown, according to the latest Foreign Affairs report. The first Air France plane to repatriate French emigrants left Tel Aviv this Thursday. There are 200,000 French people in the country.
According to the Trust Project criteria
Learn more