France hopeful its nationals will be among first group of released hostages

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna meets with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Paris on July 19, 2023. (Alan Azaria/Israeli Embassy in France)
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna meets with Foreign Minister Eli Cohen in Paris on July 19, 2023. (Alan Azaria/Israeli Embassy in France)

France’s foreign minister says she’s hopeful that French nationals will be among the first hostages released as part of a truce deal between Israel and Hamas.

“We hope that French nationals are among them and even, if possible, among the first group that will be released,” the minister, Catherine Colonna, says this morning on France Inter radio. “We are working for that.”

France counts eight people missing, some of them confirmed as hostages, from the Oct. 7 assault on Israel. France also counts 40 citizens killed in the attack.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.