Israel has 'duty to defend itself' - Former French President Sarkozy admits France would respond like Israel against aggression

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy emphasized said Israel has a right and duty to defend itself and that France would do so if it were to face similar threats to its population.

"Israel has the right to defend itself. It has the duty to defend itself. If we, the French, were in the same situation, we would need to defend ourselves. A country must stand tall, and Israel has the right to live standing tall, to live, period, and to live standing tall. From this perspective, I say they were right," Sarkozy stated while speaking to French media on Wednesday. Sarkozy served as the president of France from 2007 to 2012.

"I can never rejoice at someone's death," the French leader argued, referring to last week’s Israeli elimination of Hezbollah terrorist chief Hassan Nasrallah. "But Israel was attacked. It's the tragedy of October 7 by Hamas, and it's Hezbollah that led to a massive displacement of the population from northern Israel."

The current French administration expressed strong support for Israel in the aftermath of the Hamas invasion and massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 251 people from southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7 of last year.

In April, French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal strongly backed Israel’s right to defend itself against the Hamas in Gaza.

"I want to remind you that the situation in Gaza follows a completely barbaric and despicable terrorist attack carried out by Hamas on Israeli soil," he stated while speaking in parliament.

Attal criticized French left-wing lawmakers for ignoring the Hamas atrocities against Israeli civilians.

"You never mention a word about the victims of the attack perpetrated by Hamas. You never talk about the hostages still being held in Gaza today. There are three French hostages."

"I’m sorry that I have to remind you of this every time the far-left party discusses this issue," he added.

In contrast, current French President Emmanuel Macron has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Israeli military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

In June, Macron urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza and find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

“The ordeal of the Palestinians in Gaza must end,” Macron reportedly told Netanyahu. The French leader, who has backed U.S. President Joe Biden’s call for a Gaza ceasefire, claimed that such an arrangement would be the first step toward implementing a two-state solution.

France and the United States have also unsuccessfully tried to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran's Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah. The terror group began launching attacks from Lebanon in northern Israel on Oct. 8 in a show of solidarity with Hamas in Gaza.

The Israeli military has responded by gradually intensifying its counterattacks on Hezbollah, recently eliminating many of its top-tier commanders, hundreds of operatives and military assets.

The Israeli Air Force eliminated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah last week in a massive aerial bombing of Hezbollah’s subterranean headquarters in southern Beirut. Some 20 senior Hezbollah commanders, as well as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan, were also killed in the Israeli strike.

Last week, the UN member states, along with Macron and Biden, called on Israel to implement an immediate 21-day ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Macron has failed to address the Hezbollah threat against Israel, and has been a vocal opponent of the IDF's current ground incursion against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

On Monday evening, Israel launched a limited ground operation against Hezbollah terrorists and positions in southern Lebanon. The operation aims to facilitate the return of 60,000 Israelis who have been evacuated from their homes for nearly a year due to ongoing Hezbollah aggression.

Despite its initial reluctance, the Biden administration expressed its support for a “limited” Israeli ground offensive against Hezbollah.