PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron says the release of two Americans who were held hostage in Gaza is “a very good result” and expresses hope it could help pave the way for others to be freed, including French-Israelis.
So far, France has one confirmed hostage, 21-year-old Mia Schem, who was shown dazed and injured in a video that Hamas’ military wing released Monday.
Six other French citizens also are missing and Macron says that they’re presumed to be hostages “but without certainty.”
French contacts with Israeli authorities and other contacts via Qatar “keep up our hope that we will be able to find solutions to get the maximum number of hostages out,” he says. “We are confident: the channels we have are the good ones and are useful,” he says.
Macron says he is still weighing the possibility of traveling to the Middle East but that it would be dependent on more talks with leaders in the region.
He also announces 10 million euros ($10.6 million) in additional humanitarian aid for Palestinians and says urgent aid, including medicines, will be airfreighted to Egypt.
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From the Liveblog of
Friday, October 20, 2023
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