The attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023 was “the greatest anti-Semitic massacre of our century”, said Emmanuel Macron in the courtyard of the Palace of the Armies
In the presence of President Emmanuel Macron and an assembly of the political leadership of France, a ceremony was held today in Paris to honor the 42 French citizens who fell victim to the terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 2023.
Present were the families of the victims – many of whom came from Israel to France on a special government plane flight -, the families of the three Frenchmen who are missing, those who were injured, as well as the four hostages released by Hamas.
The attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023 was “the greatest anti-Semitic massacre of our century”, declared Emmanuel Macron in the courtyard of the Palace of the Invalides (l’Hôtel des Invalides).
“On October 7, at dawn, the unspeakable resurfaced from the depths of history,” said the French president.
“We are 68 million French people who mourn the lives lost in the terrorist attacks of October 7. Sixty-eight million minus 42 human lives lost, 68 million of whom six were injured, 68 million of whom four whose lives were forever scarred by captivity. Sixty-eight million of which three remain captives and we fight for their release every day. Their empty chairs are there,” Macron said in a loud voice.
Three chairs were left empty between the seats of the victims’ families, for the three Frenchmen still held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“Not everyone was born in France, they didn’t die in France, but they were part of France.”
Macron also stressed that we must not “give any space to creeping, unfettered anti-Semitism…because nothing justifies it.” “Nothing can justify this terrorism.”
Some French politicians, including from the far left, criticized the fact that the Paris ceremony did not include a tribute to the French nationals killed in Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
An Elysee Palace official said another tribute ceremony would be held as they did not want to “confuse two types of victims”.
“It is obvious that we owe the same emotion and dignity to the French victims of the Gaza bombing,” the official said.
Source :Skai
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