In some of the harshest condemnation of Israel by the head of a European Union member state, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday that Israel’s actions in Gaza were “something approaching revenge.”
According to Gaza health officials, since Israel began its offensive on the 2.3 million-person enclave in reprisal for the deadly strikes on southern Israel by Hamas terrorists, at least 9,061 people have died in Gaza.
On a visit to South Korea, Varadkar made statements to journalists that state radio station RTE carried. “I strongly believe that Israel has the right to defend itself, has the right to go after Hamas, and cannot do this again,” the spokesperson said.
“What I’m witnessing right now goes beyond simple self-defense. It appears to be more akin to retaliation,” Varadkar remarked. “We ought not to be there. Furthermore, I don’t believe Israel can maintain security and independence in the future in that manner,” he remarked.
When a journalist asked Varadkar if Israel had committed war crimes, he said, “That’s not for me to determine.” Israel maintains that it is operating per international law and that the goal of its attacks is to eliminate Hamas, which targets civilian populations.
The Gaza War has brought differences in EU foreign policy to light. Nations like France, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Ireland have supported UN requests for a humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict. However, according to diplomats, many nations, including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria, have objected, arguing that doing so would reduce Israel’s defense capabilities and allow Hamas to reorganize.
Ireland has always been among the most vocal opponents of Israeli actions against Palestinians in Western Europe.
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