Tribute to the French victims of Hamas: what to remember from Emmanuel Macron’s speech

The ceremony was held under the banner of “the fight against anti-Semitism.” A national tribute was held this Wednesday at noon in the Courtyard of Invalides (Paris, 7th arrondissement) in memory of the 42 French victims of the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7th. Fifty-five families of the victims were in the Invalides, as were many French political leaders, including LFI parliamentarians, whose presence caused controversy. Portraits of the 42 victims, each worn by a member of the Republican Guard, were also lined up in the courtyard of the Invalides.

Then the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, spoke. Here’s what you need to remember.

“Reversely 42 lives”

The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, began his speech with a reminder of the number of “lives lost”: “42”. “Four months later, we are 68 million French people who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks of October 7.” The head of state then named the three Frenchmen still held hostage in the Gaza Strip: “Ohad, Orion and Ofer.” He repeated that France is fighting “every day” for its “liberation.” “Their empty chairs are there,” he added, while three chairs were symbolically left empty for them.

For the head of state, the voices of the victims “still sound in Hebrew as well as in French.” “Their faces are present on our land, reminding us of the evidence of their lives, the indelible mark they leave on ours,” he added.

October 7: “the largest anti-Semitic massacre of our century”

“At dawn on October 7, the unspeakable emerged from the depths of History,” said Emmanuel Macron. “It was 6 a.m. and Hamas suddenly launched a massive and disgusting attack, the worst anti-Semitic massacre of our century. “He then returned to the events of the October 7 terrorist attacks. “Tears in the face of the barbarity that snatches a child from the arms of his father. “Silence in the face of the inexpressible, amazement in the face of savagery, tears in the face of barbarity. Barbarism, what burns and breaks, what insults and kills, what tears apart,” insisted Emmanuel Macron.

The President of the Republic then repeated previous attacks on France. “Art, culture, freedom of celebrations and our hearts are squeezed by the echoes of the Bataclan, Nice and Strasbourg,” he recalled. “Our country was touched to the core on October 7th. Not all the dead French were born on French soil, they did not fall under the French sky, but they came from France because they carried it within themselves. »

For Emmanuel Macron, “the barbarity that feeds on and propagates anti-Semitism is also what it wants to destroy and destroy.” “But those who kill out of hatred will always find before them those who are ready to die for love. »

“All lives are valuable and priceless in the eyes of France”

Emmanuel Macron then returned to the current situation in the Middle East and its “sorrow.” “All lives are valuable and priceless in the eyes of France,” the head of state insisted, undoubtedly referring to the sacrifices of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip. “The lives we honor have fallen victims to terrorism that has struck us right in the heart,” said Emmanuel Macron. “France will remain united for France and for others.”

“United to confront the fates and divisions within our united nation in these times of suffering for Israelis and Palestinians, to work tirelessly to meet the aspirations for peace and security of all in the Middle East. Betarram, as we say in Israel, means cemetery, house of life. Because for those who remain, life will consist of these absences. Another life, another world in the light of memory,” Emmanuel Macron also said.

The head of state also assured “not to succumb to the rampant anti-Semitism that is rampant here and there, because nothing justifies it.” “Nothing can excuse or justify this terrorism. “We are a people who love freedom and dignity. A people who will never forget them,” Emmanuel Macron concluded about the victims.