A taste of freedom in Gaza

More than a thousand Palestinian prisoners found freedom when Hamas released a single Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, at the end of 2011. Hundreds of them headed to Gaza, even though many had never lived there before. A few weeks after their return, our reporter found out what became of three of these former prisoners.

REPORTERS

Last year, on October 18th, scenes of joy broke out in Israel but also in the Palestinian territories, and in Gaza in particular. Israelis and Palestinians were celebrating a historic swap agreement: one Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, was freed in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Benjamin Netanyahu's government had finally come to an agreement with its arch-enemy Hamas, which had been holding the young soldier for more than five years.

The deal thrilled many, but it also shocked and angered others within Israel because of its disproportionate nature - 1,000 for 1 - and also because some of the detainees who were about to be freed had "Israeli blood on their hands." That was the expression used by those who opposed the deal, arguing that some of the prisoners would go back to the activities for which they had been arrested in the first place.

We decided to head to Gaza to follow three of these released inmates, all of whom had been sentenced to life in jail by the Israeli justice system.

22/01/2010 - REPORTERS

National identity: Who is really French?

What does it mean to be French? For the past few months, France has been asking itself that very question. But the debate over national identity launched by President Sarkozy now appears to be deepening racial tensions present for years. To get to the heart of the matter, our reporter James André went to Marseille, the most ethnically diverse city in France.

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20/01/2010 - CONGO

The disabled kings of commerce

Some are blind; all are disabled. But on the banks of the river Congo, between Kinshasa and Brazzaville, they are the kings of commerce. Because they can travel at reduced prices and pay no customs duty, their handicap is a gold mine. Our reporters met the tradesmen who use their disability to escape a life of begging.

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15/01/2010 - REPORTERS

Senegal: the football academy

Who is the next Didier Drogba, or Samuel Eto’o? And where is he playing right now? Perhaps at Senegal’s elite football academy: Diambars, one of the best in Africa. For years, boarders practice every day. In the end, only a handful of them will sign with a professional club in Europe.

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08/01/2010 - REPORTERS

Is coal the future for India?

India’s appetite for energy continues to grow, pushing Indians to consume coal in ever great quantities. Whole cities, like Jharia, in eastern India, are disappearing. At a time when Global Warming is at the top of world’s agenda, FRANCE 24 takes you to a town sacrificed to the pursuit of energy.

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05/01/2010 - REPORTERS

French is dead, long live English Rwanda!

After 100 years of French as the official language in Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has led his country to join the British Commonwealth. What are the reasons behind this move?

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