The French President, Emmanuel Macron, This Wednesday he led the national tribute to the French victims of the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, which he called “the largest anti-Semitic massacre of the century. The event, which took place four months after the massacre in which 1,160 people died, including 42 of French nationality, caused controversy due to the presence of MPs from the left-wing La Francia Insumisa party, who had been cautious in condemning this attack .
But also because of the right-wing opposition’s criticism of the late payment of this tribute. The Elysée justified its organization by saying that it did not want to interfere with the release of the hostages in the hands of Hamas. The tribute, which took place in the courtyard of the Invalides in the heart of the capital, was marked by the portraits carried by soldiers of the 42 Frenchmen who died in the attack, but also by three empty chairs symbolizing the three Frenchmen who continue to live in remain in the hands of the Palestinian terrorist group.
Macron assured that no effort would be spared to secure his release. He Israeli President Isaac Herzog declined the invitation addressed to him, officially due to a scheduling problem. A hundred relatives of the deceased were present, most of them arriving from Israel on a plane chartered by France and later meeting with Macron.
“It was 6 a.m. when Hamas suddenly launched the massive and hateful attack, the biggest anti-Semitic massacre of our century,” said the French president, who accused the terror group of “trampling on the Palestinian suffering it seeks.” . defend.”
He said this at the head of the country, which is home to the largest Jewish community in Europe “The barbarism that feeds on and spreads anti-Semitism (…) will always fall on those who are willing to die for love.”. Macron warned of the danger of “allowing the spirit of revenge to flourish” and appealed for “the unity of the nation” given the increase in anti-Semitic attacks in his country over the last four months. The President asked “Do not give in to rampant and unrestrained anti-Semitism.”
“Nothing can justify or excuse this terrorism,” Macron said. “We know that today we are not just 68 million. We are much more: a people who love freedom, brotherhood and dignity, a people who will never forget them.”
Representatives of all political parties took part in the ceremony, including that of La Francia Insumisa, although a group of relatives had asked the Elysée Palace to veto it. The background is the statements made by leaders of this party who put the Hamas attack on a par with the “genocide” that they denounce against the Palestinian people in Gaza. Absent was MP Daniele Obono, who refused to consider the October 7 attack as terrorism and considered Hamas a liberation movement.
The President has avoided this controversy and the Elysée Palace has promoted it There will also be a ceremony honoring the French victims in Gaza in the unspecified future, where only two children have been recognized so far. Today’s event was attended by, among others, former President François Hollande, several former prime ministers and much of the current government.
With information from Efe