Israel hits out at Simon Harris's first speech as Taoiseach for not mentioning hostages 

On Tuesday, Simon Harris told the Dáil they can no longer "be silent on the disproportionate reaction of the Israeli government." Picture: Dan Linehan

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has hit out at new Taoiseach Simon Harris for not mentioning hostages taken by Hamas during a Dáil speech.

The statement said Mr Harris, who was making his first Dáil speech after being voted in as Taoiseach "chose to refer to the war in Gaza but 'forgot' to mention the 133 Israeli abductees languishing in Hamas tunnels for six months".

It said that "after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust ... there are those in Ireland who insist on taking a position of the wrong side of history". 

Mr Harris said that in Gaza "we are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe and seeing innocent children, women and men being starved and slaughtered". 

"We have not been silent on the unforgivable terrorist actions of Hamas on 7 October, nor can we be silent on the disproportionate reaction of the Israeli Government. As a country, we will play our part in helping bring about a ceasefire and a lasting peace."

Mr Harris added that he will deliver the messages to Europe in Brussels on Thursday on behalf of the Irish people. 

Palestinian statehood

Israel also hit out at Ireland's decision to recognise Palestine as a state. Micheál Martin has said formal recognition of Palestine by Ireland “will happen” adding that he was bringing a formal proposal on the recognition of Palestinian statehood to Government.

Mr Martin said: "My priorities as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence reflect the fact these areas are more critical than ever to our country and our values. 

"The grave humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the desperate, overwhelming need to return some hope to this region will continue to be an urgent priority. 

"I am realistic about the limits of what Ireland can reasonably be expected to achieve by itself, which is why I have invested so much effort in building effective co-operation with other countries."

Israel said Ireland "intends to award" terrorism through a "judicial opinion together with South Africa, the legal arm of the terrorist organization Hamas, and the possibility of recognising a Palestinian state in the future".

Last month, Ireland said it was preparing to intervene in South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the top court of the United Nations.

The Tánaiste said that following examination as to whether Ieland could intervene, he had been briefed that there is a "basis" for intervention.