Israel's president says Hamas is holding 30 children captive

On 24 October, Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that Hamas is holding 30 children captive in a meeting in Tel Aviv with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"There are 30 children [in captivity] kidnapped by Hamas terrorists who committed one of the worst atrocities of the modern era," the Israeli leader said during the meeting, which was broadcast by the Independent.

Duke also clarified that Israel is working to release its own and foreign citizens. He also noted that the Jewish state does not want to enter into a confrontation on its northern border or with anyone else, but if Hezbollah drags Lebanon into a war, "it will pay the price."

At the meeting, the French leader expressed solidarity with his Israeli counterpart.

"I want you [the Duke] to be sure that you are not alone in your fight against terrorism," Macron stressed.

Earlier in the day, BFM TV, citing the French embassy in Israel, reported on Macron's intention to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah in the West Bank as part of his trip to the Middle East. Before that, it was specified, the French leader would also meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the latest number of Israelis captured by the Palestinian movement is 222. Two Russians with dual citizenship are known to be held hostage by the Palestinian movement.

7. October, Hamas exposed Israeli territory to massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and also attacked border areas in the south of the country. On the same day, the Israeli side launched retaliatory strikes and later announced the launch of Operation Iron Sword and the blockade of the enclave.

According to the latest figures, 5.4 thousand people have been injured by Israel, more than 1.4 thousand have been killed, the number of casualties in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 5 thousand and another 15 thousand residents have been injured.

The Palestinians intend to return the borders between the two countries to those that existed before the 1967 Six-Day War, with a possible exchange of territory. Palestine wants to create its own state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and make East Jerusalem its capital. Israel rejects these conditions.

(Izvestia/USA)