French President Emmanuel Macron today called for the release of “all hostages” still held by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza following the death of its leader, Yahya Sinwar.

“Yahia Sinuar was the main person responsible for the terrorist attacks and barbaric acts of October 7” (2023), he wrote on Platform X. “On this day, I think with emotion of the victims, among our 48 compatriots, and their relatives. The France demands the release of all hostages still held by Hamas.”

For his part, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barot from Brussels said that the killing of Yahya Sinwar is both “a mortal blow to Hamas” and “a turning page that must now be turned in the Gaza war” in order the sides to work for peace in the region.

“A page must now be turned for the region on its path to peace,” he told French network LCI, stressing that the opportunity was “unique because Yahya Sinwar was an obstacle to peace” and adding that diplomacy alone would could allow the cessation of hostilities.

Sinwar was believed to be the mastermind behind Hamas’ unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which plunged the region into a bloody conflict.

Two more Frenchmen are being held hostage by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.