“Increase vigilance”: as October 7 approaches, this is what Bruno Retailleau is asking of prefects

Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, has requested special measures in the run-up to October 7. MAXPPP – Vincent Isore

The new Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau asked prefects on Saturday to "increase vigilance" during "potential gatherings" on the anniversary of the October 7 massacre in Israel and the start of the war in Gaza.

“As we approach the anniversary of the October 7 pogroms that cost the lives of more than 1,195 people, including 42 of our compatriots, I have given clear instructions to prefects to increase vigilance against potential gatherings”, the minister posted on his X account (formerly Twitter).

Bruno Retailleau thus asked prefects to “quickly report upcoming gatherings and mobilizations” and d'"adapt security measures in conjunction with intelligence services".

Bruno Retailleau recommends banning certain demonstrations

He also recommended banning"ban demonstrations likely to cause serious disturbances" and "report any calls or slogans that fall within the criminal sphere, in conjunction with the judicial authority". "I will not let anti-Semitism flourish and tarnish the memory of the victims. We will be uncompromising", he continued. Several rallies are planned in France, notably in Paris and Marseille.

The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people on the Israeli side, the majority of them civilians killed on October 7, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures and including hostages who died or were killed in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Of the 251 people taken hostage on October 7, 97 are still being held in Gaza, including 33 who were declared dead by the army. Israeli.

More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory military campaign on the Gaza Strip, the majority of them civilians, according to data from the Hamas government's health ministry in Gaza, which the UN has deemed reliable.

According to the Israeli military, 348 of its soldiers have been killed in the military campaign on Gaza since the ground offensive began on October 27.