Situation of Salah Hamouri - Q&A (Oct.5, 2022)

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The French consul in Tel Aviv, along with the French ambassador, visited Salah Hamouri on Monday. Does that herald a change in strategy – can we now expect a more vigorous intervention on his behalf by French diplomats and the executive branch, including the head of State?

The situation of our compatriot, Salah Hamouri, is being monitored very closely, and we are doing our utmost to ensure that his rights are respected, that he is able to exercise all legal remedies, and that he is released as soon as possible. From the beginning, the Ministry stepped up its contacts at every level in Paris, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, in order to obtain explanations, monitor the conditions in which Mr. Hamouri was being held, and exercise our right to consular visits.

Our consuls in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have been to see him five times since March; the visit you mention was the fifth. We are closely monitoring this situation at the very highest levels of government, and President Macron raised our compatriot’s case with his counterpart, Yair Lapid, on August 22. The Quai d’Orsay has received Salah Hamouri’s family many times, the latest being on October 3.

Mr. Hamouri must be released. He must be allowed to lead a normal life in Jerusalem, where he was born and where he lives, and his wife and children must be allowed to rejoin him there. We will continue our efforts on his behalf.