Martin Martin: Irish have one-sided view of Middle East conflict

Israel’s ambassador to Ireland has said the Irish have a “one-sided view” of the Middle East conflict, which Tanaiste Micheal Martin has called unfair.

Ireland’s deputy prime minister said the Irish were motivated by shock at the “catastrophic” toll of death and destruction in the Gaza Strip.

Ambassador Dana Erlich said Wednesday that Israel was portrayed as “the only bad guy” in Ireland and that the actions of Hamas militants should be condemned more often.

“I ask the Irish people listening to us right now: when you criticise Israel, just ask more questions about the actions of Hamas and think about what can be done inside Gaza by UN agencies to actually help the Palestinian people,” Ms Erlich told Newstalk on Wednesday.

“When you call on the streets of Dublin, why don’t you call for the release of kidnapped Israeli civilians?”

Asked about the comments during a visit to Belfast, Mr Martin said the Irish were “on the side of humanity” and were motivated by the “horrible” humanitarian situation in the enclave.

“We have been very clear in our condemnation of the Hamas attack on October 7, and of Hamas itself as an organisation, and we have called on Hamas to lay down its arms, and the vast majority of the Irish people support that position,” the Foreign Minister said.

“It is not fair to say that there is a one-sided position. I think the Irish people are on the side of humanity and they are shocked by the number of deaths and civilian casualties in Gaza.

“One hundred thousand people have died, been injured or maimed, which is shocking; 17,000 unaccompanied children in Gaza right now is horrific.

“That’s what motivates the Irish people. We want an immediate humanitarian ceasefire on that basis. Gaza has been razed to the ground. The humanitarian situation is dire.”

Israel’s air and ground offensive, launched in response to the October 7 attack, has reportedly killed more than 29,000 Palestinians, destroyed entire neighborhoods and displaced more than 80 percent of the population of 2.3 million.

More than 69,000 Palestinians have been injured, according to authorities in the region.

The Israeli operation was launched after Hamas-led militants ravaged communities in southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 250 hostage.

The militants still hold about 130 prisoners, about a quarter of whom are believed to be dead.

Mr Martin said the government had received a briefing from the UN on the “dire situation” in Gaza, adding: “That is what motivates the Irish people and the Irish government.”