Israel released 90 Palestinian detainees on Monday morning a few hours after three Israeli hostages were freed by Hamas, as part of the ceasefire between the Israeli army and the Palestinian Islamist movement in the Gaza Strip devastated by more than 15 months of war.
Asked about the fate of the two Franco-Israeli hostages Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi, the minister replied: “No news. And this is the tragedy of these massive hostage-takings of October 7, is that we have no news on their state of health, on their conditions of detention.”
Jean-Noël Barrot recalled that the men “are part of the list of 33 hostages who can be released in the next 40 days”, adding that Paris had pushed for them to be part of this list.
“Eight of our compatriots were taken hostage this tragic morning (October 7, 2023, editor’s note). Two of them died, unfortunately. Four were released. There are two left, and we will be mobilized until the last hour,” he said.
Ohad Yahalomi, 50 years old, and Ofer Kalderon, 54 years old
On Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with the families of MM. Kalderon and Yahalomi.
-Ohad Yahalomi, who turned 50 in captivity, was kidnapped from his home on Kibbutz Nir Oz. His son Eitan (12 years old) was released on November 27, 2023 during the first truce.
Ofer Kalderon, a 54-year-old French-Israeli, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with Erez and Sahar, his son and daughter aged 12 and 16 respectively at the time. The two teenagers were released on November 27, 2023 during the first truce.
Of 251 people kidnapped on October 7, 2023 during Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Israel, 94 are still hostages in Gaza, 34 of whom died according to the Israeli army.
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