France has no news about the fate of its two remaining hostages held in Gaza, as negotiations advance for a new truce deal between Israel and Hamas that could see the release of 33 captives.
The deal outlines a 42-day ceasefire starting with the release of three hostages on day one, followed by four more by Sunday.
Most of them are expected to be women, children, or the ill. Subsequent negotiations would focus on freeing male hostages and securing a full Israeli military withdrawal.
Under the agreement, Israel would gradually pull back its forces while maintaining an 800-metre buffer zone inside Gaza. The deal also includes the release of 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, though anyone involved in the 7 October attack would be excluded.
French toll
"For too many months, we have had no news. We sincerely hope they can return to us alive and in good health. We have no certainty," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on RTL radio.
Since the conflict began, 48 French citizens have died. Eight were taken hostage, of whom two died in captivity and four were released during previous negotiations.
The two remaining French-Israeli hostages – Ofer Kalderon, 53, and Ohad Yahalomi, 49 – were captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas's attack on southern Israel on 7 October.
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Underground tunnels
Kalderon was kidnapped alongside his two children Erez, 12, and Sahar, 16, who were released after 52 days in captivity. His ex-wife Hadas Jaoui-Kalderon said his last message read: "We're jumping through the window, we're going to hide in the bushes."
Yahalomi was taken with his 12-year-old son Eitan. He was shot outside his home during the attack. While Hamas released footage of him in January, no further information about his condition has emerged.
"I think at this hour of their spouses, of their children, some of whom are struggling so much to rebuild their lives after being hostages themselves in Gaza, sometimes gripped by feelings of guilt at having been freed while their father is still held hostage," Barrot said.
Both men's children were freed during November's temporary ceasefire.
Barrot said France has been "tirelessly demanding" the release of its citizens for 15 months, adding that the government remains "in close contact with their families".
