French death toll in Israel rises as ministry readies repatriation flight
At least eight French nationals have been killed in Israel and a further 20 are missing following Saturday’s attack by Palestinian Hamas militants, the French Foreign Ministry said.
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“As Israeli authorities carry out checks and identification, the number of victims has unfortunately risen,” Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said late Tuesday ahead of a hearing in the National Assembly.
A 12-year-old child is among those missing in the wake of the Hamas raids, which the Israeli Defence Forces on Wednesday said had claimed at least 1,200 lives.
Many of those missing were at an electronic music festival in the southern Israeli desert, where scores of revellers were massacred.
Chartered flight
Colonna told the French parliament, which had observed a minute’s silence, that a chartered flight would be operated by Air France on Thursday to repatriate French nationals stranded in Israel.
She said the ministry was working to "clarify the situation" of those missing and to "do everything to find and free the hostages".
The head of diplomacy reiterated that there was “no possible justification for terrorism” and denounced “acts of terror perpetrated against civilians and soldiers”.
- France steps up protection for Jewish sites after Hamas attack
- Child among 14 French missing in Israel after Hamas raids
In response to the attack, Israel is carrying out a massive air and artillery bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
More than 260,000 Gazans have been forced to flee their homes as the air, land and sea strikes continue to hit the coastal enclave, the United Nations said.
The US is talking with Israel and Egypt about the idea of a safe passage for Gaza civilians.
Former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal called for protests on Friday across the Arab world in support of the Palestinians, in a recorded statement seen by Reuters.
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