'France does not abandon its children' Macron tells families of Gaza hostages
France's President Emmanuel Macron has reiterated his call for fresh talks for the release of hostages held in Gaza by militant group Hamas. This came as families of captives and their supporters gathered for rallies in several European cities to mark 100 days since their abduction.
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In a video posted online and broadcast at a rally in Tel Aviv in support of the hostages overnight on Saturday, Macron assured: "The French nation is determined that ... all the hostages of the October 7 terrorist attacks are freed."
"France does not abandon its children," he added. "That is why we have to resume negotiations again and again for their release."
During its 7 October attack, Hamas seized about 250 hostages, 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza – including at least 25 believed to have been killed.
Three French citizens remain unaccounted for following the attacks and are thought to be among the hostages held in Gaza.
French-Israeli Mia Shem, was among the 100 people released under a temporary truce agreement at the end of November, but news of the other hostages has been scant.
Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, on Sunday said many of the hostages are likely to have been killed recently.
"The enemy's leadership and army bear full responsibility," he said in a televised statement.
But Hamas on Sunday also released video footage it claimed showed three hostages alive in its custody in Gaza.
In the video, one woman and two men appear talking in Hebrew calling on the Israeli authorities to act for their return home. It was unclear when the footage was filmed.
La France n’abandonne pas ses enfants. pic.twitter.com/kbZGFXQBRX
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 13, 2024
Little progress in hostage release
Meanwhile, thousands gathered in London, Paris and Berlin on Sunday to call for the release of hostages held for the past 100 days.
The families of hostages began a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, calling on the government to bring their loved ones home.
Thousands of people poured into "Hostages Square" – a central plaza opposite Israel's Defence Ministry – that has served as a gathering point for the campaigners.
However, there has been little visible progress toward a new deal to release hostages and some say the government has not done enough.
Nearby, anti-government demonstrators called for new elections to be held and blocked a major Tel Aviv highway, clashing with police who made arrests and tried to push the crowd back.
Other protesters advanced toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in the coastal town of Caesarea, calling for his dismissal from office.
Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel launched a bombing campaign in Gaza that has left at least 24,100 people in the Palestinian territory, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas health ministry.
The conflict has sparked a humanitarian catastrophe for Gaza's 2.4 million people, who are struggling to get food, water, fuel and medical care.
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