“We must not put France on trial. No other country has organized a national tribute for the victims of Hamas” (Orelia Bliah, One Family)

In the courtyard of the Invalides, each victim will be represented by a photograph with their name

French President Emmanuel Macron (left) attends a farewell ceremony for the French armed forces chief of staff, Gen. Francois Lecointre at the Invalides monument in Paris, on July 21, 2021. Photo by Daniel Cole/ AP Photo

Around a hundred Franco-Israelis, representing some 30 families, landed in Israel on Wednesday via two special flights to attend, this Thursday, the national tribute paid to their loved ones killed on October 7 by Hamas in southern Israel. An event organized at Les Invalides, which the President of the Republic will lead “under the universal sign of the fight against anti-Semitism and through it all forms of hatred, racism and oppression towards minorities”. In the courtyard of the Invalides, each victim will be represented by a photograph with their name.

In addition to the 42 Franco-Israelis killed this Black Saturday, tribute will also be paid to the six injured French people, four freed French Hamas hostages, and three French people “still missing and presumed hostages”, the Elysée announced on Monday.

“The organization of this ceremony deeply moved the families. It was decided by this country in which they were born”

If Emmanuel Macron has suffered numerous criticism since the massacre of October 7 for his now infamous “at the same time”, the same one which led him to avoid leading the March against anti-Semitism organized in Paris on November 12 in order not to offend the suburbs, we must not give it “a false trial”, testifies Orelia Bliah of the French-speaking branch of the Israeli association One Family, dedicated to victims of terrorism.

The one who has accompanied in Israel, since the first day of mourning, the relatives of the French victims recalls that no other country has organized a national tribute for its dual nationals killed by Hamas. “The organization of this ceremony has profoundly moved the families. It was decided by this country in which they were born, where they come from. And I must say that France is generally extremely present alongside its victims of terrorist attacks in Israel.”

Orelia Bliah, who arrived in Israel on Monday evening to organize the stay of those she now knows well having accompanied them, almost since the “fateful announcement”, says that the hundred Franco-Israelis expected will stay in the same hotel, under high protection, and will be offered a dinner on Thursday evening by the Crif, the Representative Council of Jewish institutions in France.

“The presence of these deputies who for some justified the Hamas attack on October 7 greatly affects already weakened families”

As for the arrival of the deputies of La France insoumise (LFI) at Les Invalides, she concedes that “all find it aberrant”: “The presence of these deputies who for some justified the Hamas attack on October 7 greatly affects these families already weakened.”
Several of them also asked, in a letter to the Head of State, to reverse his decision. The Élysée responded on Monday that it was a “republican ceremony” to which, according to the protocol in force since 1989, all parliamentarians are invited. However, 75% of French people believe that LFI deputies have no place in this tribute , according to a CSA survey for CNews, Europe 1, Le Journal du Dimanche.