French, Israeli defense chiefs discuss Israel-Hamas hostage swap

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) - French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant held talks Wednesday on the humanitarian pause agreement for a hostage exchange between Israel and Hamas.

During a phone call with Gallant, Lecornu said his country will continue efforts for all the hostages to be released.

Lecornu also welcomed the humanitarian pause agreement for the hostage exchange between Hamas and Israel, the French Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Saying he hopes the agreement will come into force as soon as possible, he noted that the pause should ensure the delivery of aid to the civilian population in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Lecornu expressed concern over the rising tensions along the Lebanese border with Israel, saying the safety of troops deployed with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) must be guaranteed by all parties, said the statement.

The Israeli government and the Palestinian group Hamas agreed to a hostage swap early Wednesday.

Under the agreement, 50 Israelis held by Hamas will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinians in Israeli jails.

The deal also includes a four-day pause in the fighting and the entry of 300 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid including fuel into the Gaza Strip.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

The number of people killed in Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 Hamas offensive has risen to 14,532, including over 6,000 children and 4,000 women, the media office in the besieged enclave said Wednesday.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s air and ground attacks.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.