The journalists arrived in Israel on Sunday, as part of a special delegation of KKL-JNF France led by Dr. Robert Zbili, KKL- JNF France President, and Daniel Benlolo, KKL-JNF emissary in France . On the first evening, they heard fascinating lectures by the former head of the Research division in the IDF Military Intelligence corps, Yossi Kuperwasser, by Knesset member, Alon Schuster, the former Mayor of Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, and by Daniel Saada, a former senior diplomat at the Israeli Embassy in France. The senior reporters who arrived are expected to collect evidence and information about what is happening in Israel and cover it for the French public.Yesterday, the delegation visited the communities of the south, including Ofakim, Sderot and Ashdod. The foreign reporters heard from a volunteer of ZAKA Search and Rescue (a humanitarian volunteer organization that provides a rapid response to mass casualty disasters across the world) about the unbearably difficult sights he and the members of the organization have experienced in the process of collection and treatment of corpses in the Gaza envelope communities. The reporters also heard a moving testimony of a mother whose daughter was killed during the attack on the Black Saturday of October 7. In addition, the reporters visited wounded soldiers in Tel Hashomer hospital, where they heard stories from the battlefield and the endless heroism in the fight against Hamas terrorists.
Today, the delegation will visit evacuees from the Gaza envelope communities and will meet with the Speaker of the Knesset. In addition, the French journalists will meet with The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, and will hear from the families of the abductees about their activities, for the release of their loved ones and about the need for international support. The reporters will also tour the Shura military base and hear from the professionals there about an unprecedented process of identifying victims in difficult conditions, after bodies were corrupted on October 7 in an unusual way by the murderers of the terrorist organization.
Yuval Yenni, Acting CEO OF KKL-JNF, congratulated the members of the delegation: "From the beginning of the war, KKL- JNF has been actively engaged in helping the residents of the Gaza envelope and the communities of Southern Israel. "We facilitated the evacuation of residents, providing them with safe shelter. We also extended a helping hand to the leaders of local authorities in the southern region, supporting their efforts in addressing the significant challenges they face. Additionally, we contributed to the acquisition of ambulances to ensure prompt medical care for the injured. Our commitment doesn't stop here; we will continue to assist in the medium and long-term recovery of the affected communities, aiding them in rebuilding and enhancing the quality of life for their residents. To further this mission, we are currently actively gathering donations from around the world, enabling us to sustain our critical work during these times and into the future. We express our gratitude to KKL-JNF France for organizing a distinguished and significant delegation to Israel amidst the conflict. There is no substitute for witnessing events firsthand, and we urge you to share the story of what has transpired in Israel with the world. The people of Israel are united and steadfast in their support for the IDF as they carry out their duties. On behalf of KKL-JNF, we stand with the families of the victims, extend our wishes for a swift recovery to the wounded, and hold hope for the safe and return of our abductees soon."
Robert Zbili, President of KKL-JNF France: "This is not a journey of solidarity, but a journey of unity with the people of Israel, because what happened on October 7 was not a classic act of terrorism, it was an attack on the Jewish people as a whole, on their land, and on all of us. The feelings of the first days may be forgotten, and we hope that the delegation we brought, which consists of journalists, media people, and influencers, will allow them to report about what they saw that happened here, so that the world will understand that Jews were murdered in their homes in the Land of Israel, and that the fate of Jews around the world is also the target as well as the Western world."
Daniel Benlolo, KKL-JNF emissary in France: "In these difficult days that the people of Israel are going through, days of mourning and sorrow alongside unity and hope for a better future, it is important that the world also sees and hears about the terrible killing of residents in the Gaza periphery. The French delegation initiated by KKL-JNF France visited the southern part of the country in recent days and witnessed up close what the residents experienced on the Black Saturday of October 7. Prominent journalists and individuals take part in the delegation, and we are proud that KKL-JNF is contributing to the national effort both in advocacy activities and in civil volunteering."