European leaders express solidarity with Israel in face of rocket fire from Gaza

French President Francois Hollande has expressed his country’s solidarity with Israel in the face of continued rocket fire from Gaza, in a phone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The President of the Republic reiterated “that France strongly condemns these aggressions,” said a statement released by the Elysee Palace, the French presidency. Hollande also said that it was up to the Israeli government “to take all measures to protect its population in the face of threats”.

He reminded of the “need to prevent an escalation of violence.”
Earlier, British Prime Minister David Cameron strongly condemned the “appalling attacks” being carried out by Hamas against Israeli civilians, reiterating Britain’s staunch support for Israel in the face of such attacks and underlining “Israel’s right to defend itself from them.”

Cameron called his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu Wednesday evening (9 July) to discuss the situation and reiterated his country’s support, said a Downing Street spokeswoman.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza in a telephone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a government spokeswoman said.

“The chancellor today telephoned Mr. Netanyahu and condemned without reservation rocket fire on Israel,” she said. “There is no justification” for such attacks, Merkel told Netanyahu, according to her spokeswoman.

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