Irish ambassador to Israel summoned for "reprimand" over premier's remarks

The Israeli foreign minister says he has summoned the Irish ambassador in Tel Aviv "for a reprimand" following Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's statement on the release of Emily Hand.

The Taoiseach last night described nine-year-old Emily’s release as an "enormous joy and relief" on the social media platform X, adding that "an innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief," RTE reports.

Many in Israel have taken exception to Mr Varadkar’s comment, in particular the terms "lost" and "found".

This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.

— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) November 25, 2023

In response to Mr Varadkar, the foreign minister Eli Cohen said: "It seems you have lost your moral compass and need a reality check!

"Emily Hand was not "lost", she was kidnapped by a terror organization worse than ISIS that murdered her stepmother," he said.

He added: "Emily and more than 30 other Israeli children were taken hostage by Hamas, and you Leo Varadkar are trying to legitimize and normalize terror. Shame on you!"

He later continued: "Following the outrageous words of the Prime Minister of Ireland about the release of Amelie Hand, who was kidnapped to Gaza by the terrorist organization Hamas, I summoned the Irish ambassador to Israel for a reprimand."

He has yet to be give any more detail on when the ambassador, Sonya McGuinness, would be summoned, or what the "reprimand" may be.

The Israeli embassy in Ireland issued a statement saying that "words matter, especially in war when lives are at stake, and when there is an increase of extreme discourse."

It added: "It is important to remember Emily was kidnapped by terrorists who knew very well where she was all this time - in their hands.

"So too is still the fate for many Israeli men women and children who were kidnapped and are still held in Gaza. We continue to work and call for their immediate release."

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe has said the Taoiseach has been "unambiguous in condemning the violence of Hamas and also calling for restraint from Israeli military forces."

Asked about the Israeli response to Mr Varadkar's remarks in a BBC interview, Mr Donohoe said: "What we have now seen in the release of Emily is a tribute to the work that her father did, his dignity, his restraint, his leadership in awful circumstances but it also shows what diplomacy by the Irish government, by the Taoiseach, by the Tanaiste and also by allies and partners in Egypt in America and Qatar can achieve."