Ofer, Ohad, Orion and Eliya: who are the four French hostages still in the hands of Hamas?

On Thursday, hours before the end of a humanitarian truce between Israel and Hamas, 21-year-old French-Israeli Mia Shem was released. Three children, also of French-Israeli origin, were released on Monday. The releases have brought a wave of joy and relief to the families of the hostages, but concerns remain for the four Frenchmen who remain in the hands of Hamas: Ofer Calderon, Ohad Yahalomi, Orion Hernandez Radu and Elia Toledano.

Moreover, this Friday fighting resumed in the Gaza Strip, which raised concerns about casualties among the hostages. The terror group has already said that three of them were killed in the Jewish State bombings, including a child, information that has not been confirmed by Israel. He also claims that more than 15 thousand people were killed as a result of shelling in the Palestinian enclave.

The four remaining Frenchmen are adult men and were therefore not included in the release agreements signed by Hamas, which only covered civilian women and children.

“We work tirelessly for the release of the French who are still held hostage in the Gaza Strip. This is an absolute priority for France,” the French Foreign Ministry assured on Thursday evening. “Four of our compatriots are currently considered missing. They can count on France. »

Ofer Calderon, 53 years old

Ofer Calderon, a 53-year-old French-Israeli, was kidnapped on October 7 at Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his two children Erez (12) and Sahar (16). The latter two were released on Monday. But “we know nothing about the conditions of detention” of the father, “regardless of whether he is in the tunnel or somewhere else,” Patrick Klugman, a lawyer for the families of the missing Frenchmen, said on BFMTV.

“The last message my ex-husband sent me was: jump out the window, go and hide in the bushes his ex-wife Hadas told Le Parisien. “He is a good father, loving and close to his children. He imparts very good values ​​to them, especially human values,” she also said. “His passion is mountain biking. He gives it to Erez and teaches him how to do it when they are both together. »

After the children’s release, “we are full of joy and happiness, but at the same time we are very worried about their father,” Ido Dan, Ofer’s cousin, told the Forum of Hostage Families.

Ohad Yahalomi, 49 years old

Ohad Yahalomi, 49, was captured on October 7 along with his son Eitan (12), also in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza Strip. Eitan is one of three French children released on Monday and was able to find my motherbut his father remains in Hamas hands for now.

On the day of the terrorist group’s attack, his relatives said he tried to protect his family by intervening in the fight against the terrorists as they fled. “The last thing the family saw was Ohad being shot in front of the house. Nothing more since then,” her cousin said. She describes a “wonderful” man whom she “loved all my life.”

Orion Hernandez Radu, 32 years old

Franco-Mexican Orion Hernandez Radu, 32, was kidnapped during the attack at the Nova Tribe festival. He went there with the German-Israeli Shani Luk, who was found dead on October 30. His family still had no news about the father of the almost two-year-old child.

Those close to him said that the thirty-year-old young man was not originally supposed to go to the festival; it was a last-minute decision. At the beginning of the attack, Orion managed to escape in a car with a friend, but was eventually caught. “We don’t know how, but we know they were separated. His friend was found dead three days later and taken to Gaza,” said his mother Marie-Pascal.

Orion’s latest news comes from a call made to his phone on October 7th. An Arabic-speaking man who identified himself as a member of Hamas answered. She stated that “Orion is alive, that he was not mistreated and that we should not worry,” his mother summed up. But since then there has been no more news. This creates an “emotional block to the ability to move forward,” Marie-Pascal despairs.

Elia Toledano, 28 years old

Elia Toledano On November 22 I turned 28 years old in captivity. The French-Israeli man was also kidnapped during the Nova Tribe festival, where he went with Mia Shem, a French-Israeli woman who was released on Thursday evening. He has not shown any signs of life since the message sent on the morning of October 7th. Lawyer Sasha Gozlan, defending the families of the French hostages, reminded AFP that there was no “proof of life” for Eliya.

“My brother is not missing. He was kidnapped,” Daniel Toledano, his older brother, told the Parisian. When asked to describe Elia, one word comes to mind: “her smile.” He is passionate about music and works in events, particularly organizing weddings and bar mitzvahs: “His daily life is to bring joy to people. »