French president supports Israel's aggression against Gaza

French President Francois Hollande expressed his country’s solidarity with Israel in the face of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, stressing that Israel has the right to “take all appropriate measures to protect its people from threats”, Anadolu news agency reported.

A statement issued by the presidential palace on Wednesday evening said that Hollande had telephoned Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express to him “France’s solidarity with Israel in the face of rocket fire from Gaza.”

The statement said, “France firmly condemns these attacks”, adding that, “Israel can take all appropriate measures to protect its people.”

The Israeli Air Force has been waging a mass military campaign since Tuesday morning against different parts of the Gaza Strip.

The raids have so far resulted in the killing of at least 80 Palestinians, including women and children, and injured nearly 500, according to Palestinian medical sources.

Meanwhile, Gaza has responded by launching rockets against Israeli towns and cities. No deaths have been reported on the Israeli side.