Leo: I will say what needs to be said about the conflict in Gaza

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has denied softening his language on Gaza throughout his weeklong series of engagements in the US.

Mr Varadkar has said he will use the special platform of St Patrick’s Day to press US President Joe Biden to back a ceasefire in the Middle East.

He has already referenced the conflict during several speeches in Boston and Washington, DC.

At the start of the week in Boston, Mr Varadkar told the crowd that ‘innocent men, women and children’ in Gaza should not be subject to collective punishment.

He told the audience that ‘noone can avert their eyes’ from the deaths of thousands of children in Gaza.

However, during an address at the Ireland Funds gala in Washington on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar said that Palestinian civilians are being subject to ‘humiliation and starvation’ during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Asked by reporters yesterday if his use of the term ‘humiliation’ rather than explicit references to death was an indication of rolling back his rhetoric, Mr Varadkar said: ‘No, not at all.’

He said he would not be softening his tone or language.

‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t say here that I wouldn’t say back home. But I think any time you speak to any audience, or any time you go anywhere in the world, you know, we have to get the tone right and tailor the message for the audience.’

He added: ‘What I said back home, about Palestine and Gaza, I’ll be saying here too and I think I’ve used the term collective punishment in relation to Palestinians.

‘And we all know what that means, it’s a violation of international humanitarian law.

‘I appreciate that there will be difference of opinions in relation to Israel and Gaza. There’s very strong historic support for Israel in the US, for lots of different reasons, but that’s not going to deflect me from saying what I feel needs to be said.’