There are no channels of communication or negotiations “between France and the terrorists” of Hamas, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said yesterday on France Info. Precisely seventeen French nationals have been missing since the Islamist terrorist organization launched an offensive in Israeli territory on Saturday October 7, the spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay said this Thursday. And twelve were killed. But it is impossible, at this stage, to know how many are actually detained in the Gaza Strip.
Also readHostages: “Hamas blackmail”
“In view of the elements in our possession, we have concerns about them,” added the boss of the Quai d’Orsay. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of the French people who are being held hostage by Hamas.” But, by the minister’s own admission, France is not in a position to put pressure on Hamas. The French doctrine is not to abandon your hostages in the hands of terrorists. But not to negotiate officially with them, nor to pay them a ransom, preferring to go through intermediaries.
French diplomacy therefore officially defers to “Israeli authorities”. “We are completely confident in [their] ability to help us as best as possible so that the missing French people can be found and released,” explained Catherine Colonna. The minister also spoke with her Qatari counterpart and is increasing contacts “with all the countries in the region”.
Other countries are following this line. This is the case of Germany which, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, yesterday called on Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries to play an active role in attempts to free the kidnapped hostages. . In contrast, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched a process of negotiations with Hamas, reports AFP.
For its part, the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is in contact with Hamas, said it was ready to “carry out humanitarian visits; facilitate communication between hostages and their family members; and facilitate any possible release. Its regional director for the Near and Middle East, Fabrizio Carboni, recalled that hostage-taking is prohibited by international humanitarian law.
According to the Jewish state, around 150 Israelis, foreigners and dual nationals were taken hostage by Hamas. The question now is what will happen to them as Israel steps up its response. “The terrorists have made worrying statements which amount to odious and despicable blackmail,” underlined Catherine Colonna.
The terrorist organization could notably use its hostages as human shields. The spokesperson for the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, has already threatened the Hebrew state with executing an Israeli civilian hostage “each time [his] people are targeted without warning .
