Micheál Martin slams Chief Rabbi for his 'very good ratio' remark about deaths in Gaza

Chief Rabbi of Ireland Yoni Wieder at his inauguration on May 21. He also told the 'Irish Examiner' that Israeli forces in Gaza had compared well to other conflicts in terms of civilian casualties — a claim disputed by agencies including UNRWA.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has slammed as "extraordinarily insensitive" and "wrong" comments made by the Chief Rabbi of Ireland about the war on Gaza.

Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder had told the 'Irish Examiner' there has been a "very good ratio" of civilian deaths to Hamas fighters killed and that the Israeli forces in Gaza had compared well to other conflicts in terms of civilian casualties. 

That is at odds with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which said in March that more children have been killed in the Gaza strikes than in four years of conflict worldwide.

Micheál Martin said he disagrees "fundamentally" with the Chief Rabbi's analysis. The Tánaiste said: 

I think it was at the least extraordinarily insensitive to the many, many families who have lost children and loved ones in Palestine, people who had nothing at all to do with Hamas.

"Just as we've condemned the mass atrocity, the shocking killing of the innocents by Hamas, likewise, the bombardment of Gaza has caused the deaths of thousands of innocent children and men and women in Gaza. That type of approach is very difficult to comprehend."

Mr Martin said he had recently met with the Jewish community and said there are "legitimate concerns within Ireland in terms of making sure there's a safe space for everybody in our country, where we can debate and argue and contest".

"I think that part is important within our education system, in particular within our universities, that those are safe spaces for debate, and for difference and for enabling people from different backgrounds and traditions to meet and to engage... but the comments I think were just wrong."

The comments come as Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke to the prime minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati. 

While the two discussed Palestine, a government statement also said that Mr Harris had addressed "frustration" that the suspects in the murder of  Private Sean Rooney, and the serious injuries inflicted on Trooper Shane Kearney during an attack on Irish peacekeepers in 2022 remain at large.

Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins has hit out at the EU for not taking a stronger stance in relation to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza.

"It's unconscionable what is happening and Gaza, and I think the European Union has damaged itself by not being able to speak strongly, morally and ethically and in accordance with international law.

Speaking at the Bloom festival, the President added: "I know that the debate in the Security Council is getting a wider airing than before, but in many cases, how can countries stay silent? 

"If you are a friend of Israel, you don't want to see Israel disgracing itself in front of the world by continuing actions against people."