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France to keep fighting for release of French-Israeli hostages, says foreign minister

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on January 20, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 27, 2026

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French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot discusses hostage negotiations - Global Banking & Finance Review
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasizes France's ongoing efforts to secure the release of French-Israeli hostages held by Hamas, amidst rising tensions in the region.
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PARIS (Reuters) - France will keep fighting to obtain the release of the two French-Israeli nationals held by Hamas, foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told BFM TV on Monday. "We will continue to fight

France Intensifies Efforts for Release of French-Israeli Hostages

PARIS (Reuters) - France will keep fighting to obtain the release of the two French-Israeli nationals held by Hamas, foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot told BFM TV on Monday.

"We will continue to fight until the last hour for their release," Barrot told BFM TV, adding France had "no news on their health status nor on the terms of their detention".

Hamas released three Israeli hostages and Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, on the first day of a ceasefire suspending a 15-month-old war that has devastated the Gaza Strip and inflamed the Middle East.

French-Israeli nationals Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi are expected to be on the list of 33 hostages to be released in the first phase of the draft Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.

(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)

Key Takeaways

  • France is actively working to release French-Israeli hostages.
  • Foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasizes ongoing efforts.
  • Hamas released three Israeli hostages amid ceasefire.
  • Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
  • Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi are among those expected to be freed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did France's foreign minister say about the hostages?
Foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that France will continue to fight for the release of the two French-Israeli nationals held by Hamas.
What is the current health status of the hostages?
Barrot mentioned that France has no news on the health status of the hostages nor on the terms of their detention.
How many hostages were released recently?
Hamas released three Israeli hostages, while Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on the first day of a ceasefire.
Who are the French-Israeli nationals mentioned in the article?
The French-Israeli nationals mentioned are Ofer Kalderon and Ohad Yahalomi, who are expected to be released in the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

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