Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credits: AFP 3:18 p.m., February 5, 2024
After the national tribute this Wednesday for the French victims of the attack carried out on October 7 by Hamas in Israel, the Élysée is considering a "memorial time" in the future for the "French victims of the bombings in Gaza". “This tribute will be paid to them at another time,” said the Élysée.
The Élysée said on Monday that it was considering a "memorial time" in the future for the "French victims of the bombings in Gaza", after the national tribute which will be chaired on Wednesday by Emmanuel Macron for the French victims of the attack carried out on the 7 October by Hamas in Israel. Wednesday's ceremony at Les Invalides "aims to pay tribute to the victims of a major terrorist attack committed by Hamas," the French presidency told journalists.
These are “42 fellow citizens who died” in the attack by the terrorist movement in Israel, which resulted in the death of more than 1,160 people, the majority civilians. As well as three French people “still missing and presumed hostages”.
Insoumise France “welcomes” the Elysée declaration
La France insoumise "welcomes" the declaration from the Elysée on a possible "memorial time" which would be organized for the French victims in Gaza, Mathilde Panot said on Monday in a statement sent to AFP. “It is a decision that we welcome and a request that I addressed to the President of the Republic (Emmanuel Macron) at the beginning of November 2023. We will fully associate ourselves with this tribute. We must pay tribute to all the victims of war crimes in the Middle East and work for peace", declared the leader of the rebellious deputies.
The terms of this “memorial time” will be determined later
“Nevertheless, it is obvious that we owe the same emotion and the same dignity to the French victims of the bombings in Gaza, and this tribute will be paid to them at another time,” added the Élysée in response to a journalist, explaining that the The terms of this “memorial time” would be determined later.
The coordinator of La France insoumise Manuel Bompard estimated Monday on Sud Radio that it would be "legitimate" to also organize "a moment of tribute for Franco-Palestinians who also died in the context of this conflict" triggered by the Hamas attack, when Israel began an intense bombing operation against Gaza. “The President of the Republic would be great at organizing both, another tribute or the same one, it doesn’t matter,” he added.
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The LFI deputies wish in any case to go to Wednesday's tribute to the Invalides, while families refuse the arrival of the radical left movement. The Élysée responded that it was a “republican ceremony” to which, according to the protocol in force since a decree of 1989, parliamentarians are invited. “It’s up to everyone to assess the appropriateness or not of their presence since the families spoke out and expressed strong emotion,” said an advisor.