Leo Varadkar has accused Israel of “something approaching revenge”, in a staunch criticism of the country’s response to the Hamas terror attacks.
The Taoiseach said Israel had gone beyond its right to self-defence with its actions in Gaza, and warned collective punishment was a breach of international law.
“I strongly believe that, like any state, Israel has the right to defend itself, has the right to go after Hamas so they cannot do this again,” Mr Varadkar told reporters during a visit to South Korea.
“But what I’m seeing unfolding at the moment isn’t just self-defence. It looks like … it resembles something more approaching revenge.”
Asked whether Israel’s actions were “war crimes”, Mr Varadkar said: “That’s not for me to determine.”
Israel has insisted it is acting within international law and its attacks on Gaza are solely designed to destroy Hamas, which operates among the civilian population there.
Gaza’s health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, claims that 9,061 people have been killed in the territory in Israel’s reprisals for the October 7 massacre.
Vote for ceasefire
Ireland was one of eight EU member states that voted for a United Nations resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, with most national capitals abstaining.
Despite its vocal pro-Palestinian stance, Dublin maintains relations with Israel, including intelligence sharing on Middle Eastern terror threats.
But Mr Varadkar refused to describe Ireland as a friend of Israel, claiming Jerusalem doesn’t view Dublin as a friend or ally.
“I’m not sure they listen very closely to what we have to say, quite frankly, and that’s the reality of the situation,” the Irish premier said.
“I think, given what’s been said by Israel and Israeli authorities, they wouldn’t consider us to be close friends and allies in the way they’d consider the US to be, or the UK or Germany, for example,” he added.
The war between Israel and Hamas has highlighted divisions in foreign policy within the EU.
Ireland, alongside other member states such as France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands have backed calls for pauses in the fighting to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. But Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic have argued breaks in the conflict only benefit Hamas, allowing the terrorists to regroup.