In a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog described the October 7 Hamas attack as “one of the worst atrocities of modern times.”
Herzog divulged that he was worried by the rise of antisemitism around the world, including in France, adding that the international community needed to take firm action.
He described the situation in Israel’s war with Hamas as “extremely complicated and fragile”, saying that Israel demanded the “immediate release of all of our citizens abducted and hijacked.”
Herzog also accused Hezbollah in Lebanon of “playing with fire” in Israel’s north.
On his part, Emmanuel Macron said that the attack on October 7 was an “immense shock” for the whole planet, “especially in France.”
“I do share your view that the first objective we should have today is the release of all hostages without any hesitation,” he told Israel’s president, and he accused Hamas of playing with lives.
He said he wanted Israel to be sure that it was not alone in the fight against terrorism. He described it as a “duty” to fight against terrorist groups. He said “targeted operations” were a necessity.
“We will do whatever we can to restore peace, security and stability for your country and the whole region. What happened will never be forgotten, for sure. And we will be here today, tomorrow and the day after for peace and stability. Because these people were killed just because they were Jewish, and they wanted to live in peace.”
Emmanuel Macron
Macron also had a press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, who said that Hamas must be destroyed, and warned that the war may take some time.
He said that after it is finished, nobody will live any more “under Hamas tyranny”.
Benjamin Netanyahu averred that “everyone will be in danger” if Hamas wins.
Also, the French Pesident said that the international community has to avoid escalation of the conflict in the region. He specifically called on Hezbollah and Iran to act responsibly.
He proposed that the coalition that fought against Islamic State should fight against Hamas.
He also highlighted the need to “respect the rules of war.”
“The fight must be without mercy but not without rules,” Macron said.
Moreover, Macron met with the families of hostages held captive saying “we will neglect nothing” to obtain freedom for French citizens.
Nine French citizens are being held or have disappeared in the Gaza Strip.
Freed Captive Recounts Experience
Also on Tuesday, Yocheved Lifschitz, one of the two captives released by Hamas on Monday night, spoke to the media at a hospital in Tel Aviv .
Seated in a wheelchair, the 85-year-old woman told reporters that she was beaten with sticks during her abduction, but was treated well during captivity.
“The guys beat me on the way, they didn’t break my ribs but hurt me,” the 85-year-old told reporters at a Tel Aviv hospital.
She added that her captors drove her into Gaza then forced her to walk several kilometres on wet ground to reach a network of tunnels that looked like a spider web.
She went on to describe conditions in the tunnels where she was held, where she said people treated her “gently” and “looked after our needs.”
The captives were fed and they slept on mattresses. She said that there were doctors and paramedics there to tend to wounds.
“They treated us well,” she said, explaining a doctor visited her and fellow captives every two to three days.
Lifschitz said that after she and four other people were taken into a room, they were treated well, conditions were clean, and they received medical care, including medication.
She said the people assigned to guard her “told us they are people who believe in the Quran and wouldn’t hurt us”.
Lifschitz’s husband remains a hostage.
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