Ireland's new Taoiseach accused by Israel of "forgetting" Israeli hostages

Israel's Ministry of Foreign A airs has condemned Ireland's new Taoiseach Simon Harris for not mentioning hostages taken by Hamas during a Dáil speech this week where he spoke about the ongoing conflflict in Gaza. Speaking in his inaugural Dáil speech as Taoiseach on Tuesday, Harris said: "In Gaza, we are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe and seeing innocent chil‐ dren, women and men being starved and slaughtered.

"We have not been silent on the unfor‐ givable terrorist actions of Hamas on 7 October, nor can we be silent on the dis‐ proportionate reaction of the Israeli Government.

"As a country, we will play our part in helping bring about a ceasefire and a lasting peace."

In a statement on Thursday, Israel's Min‐ istry of Foreign A airs said Harris "chose to refer to the war in Gaza in his inaugural address but 'forgot' to mention the 133 Israeli hostages who have been rotting in Hamas tunnels for the past six months."

The statement continued: "The Taoiseach joined Micheál Martin, his Minister for Foreign A airs, in planning/his intention to award additional prizes to terrorism, in the form of an ICJ declaration of in‐ tervention on the side of South Africa, the legal arm of the Hamas terrorist or‐ ganization, and the possible recognition of a Palestinian state down the line/in the future.

"After the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, and even after the war crimes, the crimes against humanity and the sexual crimes that were committed, and are still being committed, by Hamas terrorists against Israeli women and men, there are those in Ireland who per‐ sist on being on the wrong side of his‐ tory.

"The State of Israel will continue to pro‐ tect its citizens, acting in accordance with international law, and will keep on striving to bring home the 133 men and women being held hostage and to bring down the Hamas terrorist organization, so that October 7th will not be re‐ peated."

Harris, who was Ireland's Minister for Higher Education before becoming Taoiseach this month, has frequently called for the release of all hostages. During a speech at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis last weekend where he o cially became the new leader of the party in the wake of Leo Varadkar's resignation, Harris said in part: "We condemn the massacre carried out by Hamas in Octo‐ ber and again call for the release of all hostages."

He did, however, add: "Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Irish people could not be clearer. We are repulsed by your actions. "Ceasefire now and let the aid flow safely."

On Thursday, a spokesperson for Harris rebutted claims that the Taoiseach had neglected to mention Israeli hostages. "By any fair analysis, Ireland has always condemned the atrocity Hamas commit‐ ted on October 7th and called for hostages to be released," a spokesper‐ son told the Irish Times.

"The Taoiseach has repeatedly said it."