Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Gaza, stating that Israel’s actions are not just self-defence, but seem to be more like revenge. He made these comments as Israeli ground troops began to encircle Gaza City.
Varadkar emphasized the importance of remembering the origins of this conflict phase, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel that resulted in the death of 1,400 civilians, including a dual Israeli-Irish citizen.
While acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself and counteract Hamas, Varadkar expressed his belief that the current situation goes beyond self-defence and resembles revenge. He voiced his doubts about whether Israel values Ireland’s opinions, given that Israel tends to listen more to its close allies like the US.
Despite this, Varadkar affirmed that Ireland will continue to take a strong stance in the UN and EU and increase its humanitarian aid for Palestine. He also acknowledged that Israel may not consider Ireland a close ally due to its differing stance on Palestine.
Varadkar refrained from making any judgments on whether war crimes were committed in Gaza, stating that it was not his place to determine.