Agam Berger tells France’s top diplomat: "Diplomacy with Hamas is a dead end"

Former Hamas hostage Agam Berger met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in Paris and rejected the notion that diplomacy could resolve the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

“They don’t want coexistence. All these diplomatic solutions… they won’t work. It’s either us or them,” Berger told Barrot in Hebrew, as seen in a video clip shared by Kan 11 News.

Berger, who was held hostage by Hamas for 473 days, emphasized that Israel does not seek war but will fight if its existence is threatened. “If we didn’t have to choose war, we wouldn’t. But when it’s a war for our country’s survival, we do what we must,” she said.

Barrot later acknowledged the meeting on X, stating that he had met “with families of the hostages and Agam Berger,” describing her ordeal as “473 days of captivity under inhumane conditions.”

“All hostages must be released. Now. Hamas must be disarmed and excluded from Gaza's political future,” declared French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot in a statement on social media.

His remarks followed a meeting in Paris with Hamas captivity survivor Agam Berger and families of remaining hostages. The visit came amid rising diplomatic strain between Israel and France, following recent public clashes between Barrot and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Tensions escalated after Netanyahu accused France, the UK, and Canada of siding with Hamas by calling for an end to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Barrot responded sharply, accusing Netanyahu of slander and defending the joint statement, which warned Israel to halt its offensive or face potential consequences.