Government declines to comment on media claims that Irish person is a Hamas hostage

Iranian media reported that Ireland had asked for help in freeing a hostage but a spokesperson for Micheál Martin declined to comment on the matter

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has been in contact with his counterparts in the Middle East since the outbreak of violence in early October. File photo: Colin Keegan, Collins

The Government has declined to comment on Iranian claims that an Irish person is being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin has been in contact with his counterparts in the Middle East since the outbreak of violence in early October. He spoke to the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian over the weekend, with the official Iranian read-out of the call saying that the two had discussed "current developments in West Asia, especially the Gaza genocide and the ongoing aggression by the Zionist regime".

The Iranian state news service, however, added that Ireland had asked for help in freeing a citizen being held since the Hamas raid on Israel on October 7, which has left 1,400 people dead.

"Ireland’s foreign minister said that what is required at the current time is an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities, as well as respect to international law. People in Gaza should also have access to humanitarian assistance as soon as possible, he added. Micheál Martin also demanded Iran help in the release of an Irish national who is among dozens of captives held by Palestinian resistance movement Hamas in Gaza.

"Amirabdollahian, who has been pushing for diplomatic efforts aimed at supporting the Palestinians in Gaza, said that Hamas has agreed to release civilian captives, which will be carried out when conditions are ripe."

A spokesperson for Mr Martin declined to say whether an Irish citizen is being held hostage, but said: "The Tánaiste has been engaging extensively with Foreign Ministers from across the region on the situation in Gaza. 

"In all his contacts, he has emphasised the need for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the delivery of humanitarian aid; the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; the desperate situation for civilians in Gaza; and the increasing urgent need for all Irish citizens in Gaza to be facilitated to leave as soon as possible. All these issues were raised in the Tánaiste’s call with the Iranian Foreign Minister."

Speaking in South Korea, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that he had not been briefed on the situation. He said that he has not been briefed on whether an Irish citizen has been kidnapped.