Relatives of French-Israeli Gaza hostages demand stronger action by Macron

At a joint press conference of French-Israeli families whose loved ones are missing following the Hamas massacre in the Gaza border communities and at the Supernova desert rave, family members demand that French President Emmanuel Macron offer some answers.

“I want my country to get back to what it was, I want my sister back and they all want their family back, all of us,” says Meitar Journo, whose sister, Karine, 24, has been missing since taking part in the Supernova party. “Macron, you have the power to bring them back home.”

Four families tell their stories, which include that of two different young women who went to the Supernova party and haven’t been heard from since the early morning hours of Saturday, October 7.

“We haven’t heard from her since then,” says Ido Nagar, whose wife, Seline Ben David, was hiding in an open field shelter due to the initial rocket attack. “We have a small baby. Please help me return Seline home to her daughter.”

“We’re also here because they’re also French citizens,” says Nagar. “And France has a commitment to its citizens.”

Gaia Calderon speaks about the five people missing from her family in Kibbutz Nir Oz — her father, her sister, her 12-year-old brother, her French-born grandmother and her cousin.

“I don’t have half my family and I don’t know if they’re even alive,” says Calderon.

One woman tells a harrowing story of her family’s experience, including her husband, Ohad, who was injured trying to protect the family and is missing, as well as her 12-year-old, Eitan, who was taken to Gaza by the Hamas terrorists.

“Help us, French government, give us some information,” she says.

Dafna Posnaski, who works as a representative of French citizens in Israel — working with the French Embassy, but not for them — says the embassy has been silent and isn’t handing over any information.

Posnaski says that Macron is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m. about the French captives.