Paris will do everything “to return safe and unharmed to France” the French hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, French President Emmanuel Macron promised their families in a teleconference today.

The French death toll in Hamas attacks in Israel so far stands at 28 and the missing at 7, including some held hostage by Hamas.

Macron spoke this afternoon via video conference from the presidential palace to the families of the French hostages kidnapped and held in Gaza by Hamas, flanked by Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, who had met the families of the French hostages in Tel Aviv on Sunday , the secretary general of the French presidency, Alexis Kohler, and his diplomatic advisor, Emmanuel Bon.

“The head of state assured them of his full mobilizationas well as for her of all the services of the state to ensure their release”, the French presidency announced after the talks Macron had with the families of the French hostages.

“Everything will be done to return them safe and sound to France. The president of the Republic reiterated to the families his support and that of all French people in the face of this terrible ordeal (they are facing) and his determination to fight unceasingly against all forms of terrorism,” the French presidency noted.

On Tuesday the French president had said that “intense talks” were taking place, adding that “they are progressing, we are monitoring these talks hour by hour”. He also underlined that Paris had “contacts, obviously, with the Israeli authorities”, but also with “friendly mediating forces with Hamas to ensure the release of our hostages and all hostages”.

He had also assured the family of Mia Shem, a young French-Israeli hostage whose video was released by Hamas on Monday, and all relatives of people missing since the attack, of his support and “loyalty”.

Shem’s mother pleaded Tuesday with “world leaders” for her daughter’s release.