French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday welcomed Hamas freeing a first group of hostages, assuring the families of French captives held in war-torn Gaza of his "determination" to secure their release.
No French nationals were among the first group released on Friday under an agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement that rules Gaza, AFP reported.
"I welcome the release of the first group of hostages... Special thoughts for the French hostages and their families. They can count on our determination," Macron said on X, formerly Twitter.
"We remain mobilized alongside the mediators to secure the release of all hostages," he added.
The French government remains "mobilized for the release of French hostages within the framework of the agreement currently being implemented... and we are working tirelessly to obtain that", the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
