French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was in Israel on Thursday, where he met with Foreign Minister Israel Katz in Jerusalem after meeting with hostage families in Tel Aviv.
“Back in Israel, to continue a demanding dialogue on Lebanon and Gaza. Diplomatic solutions are possible to free the hostages, protect civilians and guarantee the security of all. It is time to put an end to the tragedy that began on October 7,” Barrot tweeted.
Thursday’s visit was his second to the Jewish state in a month.
During the meeting with the relatives of two French-Israelis still held by the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza—Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Calderon—the minister “expressed once again the emotion and solidarity of the nation,” adding that “France will continue to do everything in its power to free its loved ones, and all the hostages still held in Gaza.”
398 jours de cauchemar.
— Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) November 7, 2024
Aux proches d’Ofer et Ohad, dès mon arrivée à Tel Aviv, j’ai exprimé à nouveau l’émotion et la solidarité de la Nation.
La France continuera de faire tout ce qui est en son pouvoir pour libérer les siens, et tous les otages encore retenus à Gaza. pic.twitter.com/Ome3GF9o65
Following his meeting with Katz, he was scheduled to meet with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Barrot will then depart for Ramallah to meet with Palestinian Authority officials.
Barrot last visited Israel on Oct. 7 to attend commemoration services for the victims of Hamas’s massacre in Israel on the same date last year.
