Emmanuel Macron affirms his “determination” to obtain the release of French hostages

“We remain mobilized,” promised the President of the Republic. Emmanuel Macron welcomed, Friday, November 24, the release of the first hostages by Hamas, assuring the families of the French people held of his “determination” to obtain their release, while no French are among the first group released as part of an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement.

“I welcome the release of a first group of hostages (…) Special thoughts for the French hostages and their families. They can count on our determination”, wrote the President of the Republic on X. “We remain mobilized alongside the mediators to obtain the release of all,” he added.

“Absolute priority”

A total of 24 hostages, 13 Israelis, ten Thais and one Filipino, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza by Hamas on Friday, announced Qatar, the main mediator in the conflict. Paris remains “mobilized for the release of French hostages within the framework of the agreement currently being implemented”that of “all our compatriots [étant] an absolute priority for France, and we are working tirelessly to obtain it“insisted the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release.

This release of hostages by Hamas occurred as part of an agreement allowing a truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip. The Quai d’Orsay also welcomed “the mediation efforts of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, as well as the ICRC, which made it possible to obtain this agreement.”