France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, on Saturday condemned as “despicable” the videos depicting Israeli hostages held in Gaza, which were posted by the armed wing of Hamas and another Palestinian Islamist faction.
Barrot expressed his outrage on X, stating:
“Despicable, unbearable images of the Israeli hostages held for 666 days in Gaza by Hamas.”
He insisted on the immediate release of the hostages:
“They must be freed, without conditions.”
Furthermore, he demanded:
“Hamas must be disarmed and excluded from ruling Gaza.”
In addition to this, Barrot called for substantial humanitarian aid to be delivered to the people of Gaza.
Hostage videos provoke international and Israeli outrage
On Friday, Hamas’s armed wing released a one-minute video showing an Israeli hostage inside a narrow concrete tunnel in Gaza. The hostage appeared weak and malnourished.
The day before, on Thursday, the armed wing of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad published a video of an Israeli-German hostage abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel.
The dissemination of these videos has incited widespread anger in Israel.
Israeli military response and ongoing conflict
Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, warned on Saturday that the fighting in Gaza would persist unabated if negotiations fail to swiftly secure the release of the hostages.
- Hostage situation:
- Total taken during the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack: 251
- Still held in Gaza: 49
- Among those held, 27 are reported dead by the Israeli military
- Casualties from the 2023 Hamas attack:
- Death toll: 1,219 people, predominantly civilians
- Israeli military casualties since Gaza ground invasion:
- Soldiers killed: 898
- Civilian casualties in Gaza during Israeli campaign:
- Deaths: At least 60,332, mostly civilians (according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, figures considered reliable by the United Nations)
Summary table of key figures
| Category | Number | Notes |
| Hostages taken by Hamas (Oct 7, 2023) | 251 | |
| Hostages currently held in Gaza | 49 | 27 reported dead by Israeli military |
| Deaths from Hamas attack (mostly civilians) | 1,219 | Based on official tally |
| Israeli soldiers killed since ground invasion | 898 | |
| Civilians killed in Gaza (Israeli campaign) | 60,332+ | According to Hamas-run health ministry |
This ongoing conflict remains deeply tragic, with the humanitarian situation in Gaza worsening as hostilities continue. The international community, including France, is urging immediate action to release the hostages and to provide urgent aid to the civilian population.
