2023-10-20 23:55:12
French hostages, humanitarian aid, escalation in Lebanon and even Niger… In an interview with journalists, the President of the Republic spoke of the war between Israel and Hamas. The French president also indicated that he did not rule out a trip to the Middle East “in the coming days, the very next weeks”, if he managed to “obtain useful things” thanks to this trip.
He further specified that France would send “emergency humanitarian aid” as “as quickly as possible”, in particular “in medicine”, towards Egypt and for the population of Gaza. What to remember from his statements.
At least one French hostage, six other “suspected”
“We have a total of seven missing. Young Mia Shem is the only one whose hostage status is confirmed,” noted the president during a telephone briefing with journalists, referring to the Franco-Israeli woman whose video was broadcast on Monday by the Islamist organization. Palestinian Hamas.
“For the other six there is a presumption of hostage-taking but without certainty,” he added, referring to “elements cross-checked with the Israeli services and authorities”. He nevertheless said he was “worried for several of them because the toll of French victims has continued to increase in recent days”. Missing people are regularly identified among the bodies of the 1,400 victims found after the Hamas attack.
Emmanuel Macron reported “discussions with the services, and with the Israeli authorities, and through various contacts through Qatar in particular” to obtain their release. “We are confident: the channels we have are the right ones and are useful,” he assured, emphasizing the “very important role” played by Qatar in the release of two American hostages. “These discussions keep us hopeful that we can find solutions to get as many hostages out as possible,” he insisted.
A trip to the Middle East possible in the coming days
Emmanuel Macron who reiterated that he did not exclude a trip to the Middle East “in the coming days, the very next weeks”, if he managed to “obtain useful things” thanks to this trip. This trip “will depend on the discussions that I will have in the coming hours, the coming days with all the leaders of the region,” said the head of state.
Humanitarian aid sent to Egypt
France will send “emergency humanitarian aid” in “the shortest possible time”, particularly “in medicine”, towards Egypt and Gaza, Emmanuel Macron told a few journalists on Friday.
France wants “to be able to support the efforts made by Egypt, supported by the United States, thanks to the opening of Rafah”, the border post from which the besieged Gazans are desperately awaiting the arrival of the first convoys of international aid. “We have decided to increase by 10 million euros the humanitarian aid that we provide to the Palestinians,” recalled Emmanuel Macron.
Avoiding the conflagration in Lebanon
According to him, France is sending “very directly” messages of moderation and de-escalation to Lebanese Hezbollah in order to dissuade it from entering the conflict between Israel and Palestinian Hamas, French President Emmanuel Macron told a few journalists on Friday.
“We sent messages to Hezbollah very directly through our ambassador and our services. We also passed them on to the Lebanese authorities,” he said. “There was rocket fire but there was no escalation today in this matter. But we remain very cautious. We pass these moderation messages on a daily basis,” he added.
Supported by Iran, Hezbollah has a very significant military strike force. “There is a situation of tension which in any case is extremely worrying and poses a great risk to the entire region. We warn everyone, we do everything to avoid escalation but the security situation remains by definition unstable because it is at a very high level of tension and pressure,” said Emmanuel Macron.
The French president also indicated on Friday that he did not rule out a trip to the Middle East “in the coming days, the very next few weeks”, if he managed to “obtain useful things” thanks to this trip. This trip “will depend on the discussions that I will have in the coming hours, the coming days with all the leaders of the region,” he said.
“Serious concern” about President Bazoum (Niger)
Emmanuel Macron also expressed “his deep concern about the uncertain situation” of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, overthrown on July 26 by a coup d’état and currently in detention. The French president “calls for his immediate release as well as that of his wife and his son”, the Élysée said in a press release, emphasizing “France’s determination to continue its efforts for the restoration of “constitutional order in Niger”. Thursday evening, the military regime currently in power in Niamey claimed that Mohamed Bazoum had “tried to escape”, which the Niger president’s lawyers refuted.
#French #hostages #humanitarian #aid #Gaza #situation #Niger #remember #Emmanuel #Macrons #statements