the ache of family members gathered within the courtyard of the Invalides | EUROtoday
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PFor them, the wait was lengthy. The households of the 42 Franco-Israeli victims of the October 7 assaults perpetrated by Hamas within the localities and kibbutzim of southern Israel took their locations on the stands, put in in the principle courtyard of Les Invalides, in Paris. A most safety system has been put in place. In Israel, the French tribute shall be broadcast on the “hostage square” in Tel Aviv, the place households steadily meet.
The ceremony begins in solemn tranquility with the entry of Republican guards carrying portraits of the 42 victims, most of whom had been buried on Israeli land. Emotion envelops the viewers with the melodious and charming notes of the violin within the interpretation by the Republican Guard orchestra of the mourning track “Kaddish”, taken from “Two Hebrew Melodies” by Maurice Ravel.
Faced with a number of ministers, politicians from all sides, together with LFI whose presence is controversial, and representatives of non secular cults surrounding the relations of the French victims, Emmanuel Macron begins his speech, filled with gravity: “The courtyard of the Invalides is too narrow, four months to the day after the terrorist attacks of October 7. 42 lives cut short. Ohad, Orion and Ofer. France fights every day for their liberation. » Three chairs were symbolically left empty for these hostages still held by Hamas.
The sadness is deep and visible on the faces of the families. Orion Hernandez-Radoux, a 32-year-old Franco-Mexican, was present at the Tribe of Nova festival targeted by terrorists. His mother Marie-Pascale Radoux, originally from Haute-Garonne, has not received any proof of life. “I don’t know what conditions Orion lives in, if he has enough to eat, how he sleeps. » The one who was unaware of the presence of her son in Israel remains hopeful of seeing him return and regrets a lack of information from the Israeli authorities.
A feeling that resonates with Yishai Dan, Ofer Kalderon's uncle, whose children, Erez and Sahar, were released at the end of November as part of the truce agreement with the Palestinian Islamist movement. Without news from him for 124 days, and with his heart bruised by the death of his sister-in-law and his great-niece Noya Dan, Yishai Dan vigorously continues his fight for his release. “This ceremony is of great importance to us: already because it is the first in the world and also because for once, light is shed on those who suffer and endure trials, without them being soldiers,” he explains to Point. “When France chose to pay tribute and salute the memory of the victims, Israeli officials took no official steps in this direction. Priority does not seem to be given to the hostages. I find more support here than I felt in Israel. »
Combative loved ones
For Yishai Dan, highlighting the fight against anti-Semitism desired by the President of the Republic does not necessarily seem to be appropriate for this occasion. “I don’t think that’s the question. Hamas does not work exclusively against Jews, but rather against the entire world. Terrorists oppose anything that differs from themselves and take hostile action against anything that is not part of their vision. »
Ayala Yahalomi Luzon, the aunt of Eitan Yahalomi, released on November 27 after 52 days of captivity, is present in support of her brother, Ohad, still in the hands of terrorists. “Although I fulfill different roles in my life as a mother, daughter and friend, since October 7, I define myself solely as Ohad's sister. We don't need people to have hope for us. I have hope. »
She maintains that she is unaware of ongoing talks with Hamas and admits that she is not seeking additional information. “We have been living a very long day since October 7, there are no days, there are no nights and I want us to get to October 8. »
As a prelude to a minute of silence, the bugle accompanies the slow and solemn “Ringing to the Dead”. Then La Marseillaise sounded, carried out by the French Army Choir. A brand new silence, damaged this time by the unhappy concord of Frédéric Chopin’s “Funeral March”. As the portraits of the victims go away the courtyard of honor, the households mourn their lifeless in an environment of palpable emotion, amplified by Emmanuel Macron's eulogy imbued with humanity.
The president's phrases nonetheless resonate. “Tears within the face of barbarism. The one who burns and breaks, the one who abuses and kills. The one which feeds on anti-Semitism and spreads it. We are usually not simply 68 million bereaved French individuals. In today, there are various extra of us. We are a individuals loving freedom, fraternity, dignity. A individuals who will always remember them. »
https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/hommage-aux-victimes-francaises-du-7-octobre-la-douleur-des-proches-reunis-dans-la-cour-des-invalides-07-02-2024-2551836_20.php