Macron Commemorates October 7, Ignores Gaza

FreeNews.TR / French President Emmanuel Macron, in a message published on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, commemorated only the victims in Israel, without providing a single name or figure regarding the war in Gaza where tens of thousands of people have died. The statement was criticized as one-sided despite its emphasis on "peace and security for all."
On October 7, 2026, Macron wrote on his X account: "October 7. Three years have passed since the barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people, including 51 of our citizens. For three years, we have shared the grief of the State of Israel and the bereaved families. Three years later, we forget neither the names nor the faces: Maya's, Ohad's, Valentin's, and many others. To combat antisemitism and terror everywhere and at all times, to work for peace and security for all: this is France's commitment."
According to a count reported by AFP, 1,221 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in the attacks on October 7, 2023. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was scheduled to attend the commemoration ceremony in Tel Aviv.
Gaza was not mentioned in the same message. According to EFE and the Swiss news agency, the war launched by Israel in the aftermath of the attacks has caused massive devastation in the Gaza Strip and led to the deaths of over 74,000 people. These figures are based on data from health authorities in Gaza; the combatant-civilian distinction and counting method remain disputed. A United Nations independent panel of experts, Amnesty International, and some Israeli human rights organizations have characterized Israel's actions as genocide. This characterization is not a legally definitive court ruling; Israel argues that the operations are a legitimate defense against Hamas and that civilian casualties result from the organization using civilians as human shields.
The core of the criticism is this: While stating "we do not forget the names and faces," Macron counted only the victims on the Israeli side and did not connect the phrase "security for all" to the deaths, displacements, and destruction in Gaza. In the heavy replies to the post, the same point stood out; users interpreted the failure to commemorate the losses experienced in Gaza since October 8, 2023, as the silence of the French administration.
In his UN General Assembly speech in September 2026, Macron had described the situation in Gaza as "a sight that shames us all" and criticized the inadequacy of humanitarian aid. The absence of this stance in the anniversary message fueled allegations of inconsistency regarding the scope of the commemoration.
English Translation
Macron Commemorates October 7, Ignores Gaza
FreeNews.TR / French President Emmanuel Macron, in a message published on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, commemorated only the victims in Israel, without providing a single name or figure regarding the war in Gaza where tens of thousands of people have died. The statement was criticized as one-sided despite its emphasis on "peace and security for all."
On October 7, 2026, Macron wrote on his X account: "October 7. Three years have passed since the barbaric terrorist attacks by Hamas claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people, including 51 of our citizens. For three years, we have shared the grief of the State of Israel and the bereaved families. Three years later, we forget neither the names nor the faces: Maya's, Ohad's, Valentin's, and many others. To combat antisemitism and terror everywhere and at all times, to work for peace and security for all: this is France's commitment."
According to a count reported by AFP, 1,221 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in the attacks on October 7, 2023. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot was scheduled to attend the commemoration ceremony in Tel Aviv.
Gaza was not mentioned in the same message. According to EFE and the Swiss news agency, the war launched by Israel in the aftermath of the attacks has caused massive devastation in the Gaza Strip and led to the deaths of over 74,000 people. These figures are based on data from health authorities in Gaza; the combatant-civilian distinction and counting method remain disputed. A United Nations independent panel of experts, Amnesty International, and some Israeli human rights organizations have characterized Israel's actions as genocide. This characterization is not a legally definitive court ruling; Israel argues that the operations are a legitimate defense against Hamas and that civilian casualties result from the organization using civilians as human shields.
The core of the criticism is this: While stating "we do not forget the names and faces," Macron counted only the victims on the Israeli side and did not connect the phrase "security for all" to the deaths, displacements, and destruction in Gaza. In the heavy replies to the post, the same point stood out; users interpreted the failure to commemorate the losses experienced in Gaza since October 8, 2023, as the silence of the French administration.
In his UN General Assembly speech in September 2026, Macron had described the situation in Gaza as "a sight that shames us all" and criticized the inadequacy of humanitarian aid. The absence of this stance in the anniversary message fueled allegations of inconsistency regarding the scope of the commemoration.
French Translation
Macron commémore le 7 octobre, ignore Gaza
FreeNews.TR / Dans un message publié à l'occasion du troisième anniversaire des attaques du Hamas du 7 octobre 2023, le président français Emmanuel Macron a commémoré uniquement les victimes en Israël, sans mentionner le moindre nom ni chiffre concernant la guerre à Gaza où des dizaines de milliers de personnes ont péri. La déclaration a été critiquée comme unilatérale malgré son insistance sur « la paix et la sécurité pour tous ».
Le 7 octobre 2026, Macron a écrit sur son compte X : « 7 octobre. Trois ans se sont écoulés depuis que les attaques terroristes barbares du Hamas ont coûté la vie à plus de 1 200 personnes, dont 51 de nos concitoyens. Depuis trois ans, nous partageons la douleur de l'État d'Israël et des familles endeuillées. Trois ans plus tard, nous n'oublions ni les noms ni les visages : ceux de Maya, d'Ohad, de Valentin et de tant d'autres. Lutter contre l'antisémitisme et le terrorisme partout et toujours, œuvrer pour la paix et la sécurité pour tous : tel est l'engagement de la France. »
Selon un décompte rapporté par l'AFP, 1 221 personnes ont été tuées et 251 prises en otage lors des attaques du 7 octobre 2023. Le ministre français des Affaires étrangères, Jean-Noël Barrot, devait participer à la cérémonie de commémoration à Tel-Aviv.
Gaza n'a pas été mentionné dans le même message. Selon l'EFE et l'agence de presse suisse, la guerre lancée par Israël à la suite des attaques a entraîné une destruction massive dans la bande de Gaza et a causé la mort de plus de 74 000 personnes. Ces chiffres reposent sur les données des autorités sanitaires de Gaza ; la distinction entre combattants et civils ainsi que la méthode de comptage font l'objet de controverses. Un comité d'experts indépendants des Nations unies, Amnesty International et certaines organisations de défense des droits humains israéliennes ont qualifié les actions d'Israël de génocide. Cette qualification ne constitue pas une décision de justice définitive sur le plan juridique ; de son côté, Israël soutient que les opérations relèvent de la légitime défense contre le Hamas et que les pertes civiles découlent de l'utilisation de civils comme boucliers humains par l'organisation.
Le cœur de la critique est le suivant : en affirmant « nous n'oublions ni les noms ni les visages », Macron a compté uniquement les victimes du côté israélien et n'a pas relié la formule « la sécurité pour tous » aux morts, aux déplacements et aux destructions à Gaza. Dans les nombreuses réponses à la publication, ce même point a été mis en avant ; les utilisateurs ont interprété le fait de ne pas commémorer les pertes subies à Gaza depuis le 8 octobre 2023 comme le silence de l'administration française.
Dans son discours à l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies en septembre 2026, Macron avait qualifié la situation à Gaza de « spectacle qui nous fait honte à tous » et avait critiqué l'insuffisance de l'aide humanitaire. L'absence de cette ligne dans le message d'anniversaire a nourri les accusations d'incohérence quant à la portée de la commémoration.
Last updated: 09.10.2026 00:17
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Macron Commemorates October 7, Ignores Gaza
FreeNews.TR / French President Emmanuel Macron, in a message published on the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, commemorated only the victims in Israel, witho…
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