Israel’s embassy in Ireland will close due to rising tensions over Gaza, where the Palestinian death toll has reached nearly 45,000
Dublin: So, Israel just announced it’s shutting down its embassy in Ireland. This comes as tensions over the Gaza conflict are really heating up. Reports say the Palestinian death toll is nearing 45,000, which is just heartbreaking.
The Israeli Foreign Minister is calling out Ireland for what he sees as extreme anti-Israel policies. Earlier this year, Israel even pulled its ambassador from Dublin after Ireland decided to recognize a Palestinian state, which didn’t sit well with them.
Things escalated when Ireland decided to join South Africa in a lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing them of genocide in Gaza. Israel is totally denying those claims, of course.
Irish Deputy Prime Minister Micheal Martin expressed concern that the way genocide is being defined could lead to a lack of accountability for protecting civilians. Meanwhile, Gideon Saar, the Israeli Foreign Minister, said Ireland has crossed every line in their relationship.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called the embassy closure “deeply regrettable.” He insists that Ireland isn’t anti-Israel but is instead pro-peace and pro-human rights.
As for the situation in Gaza, Israeli military operations are still going strong. Just last week, airstrikes hit a school in Beit Hanoun, killing at least 15 people, including families. It’s just devastating to hear these stories.
In Gaza City, three airstrikes targeted homes where displaced people were staying, resulting in at least 17 deaths, including women and children. One survivor shared a heart-wrenching account of losing his wife and daughter in the chaos.
Another airstrike took the life of a Palestinian journalist working for Al Jazeera, along with several civil defense workers. The conflict really escalated after Hamas attacked southern Israel back in October, leading to a tragic loss of life on both sides.
It’s tough to wrap your head around the numbers. The Palestinian Health Ministry says over half of those killed are women and children, which is just gut-wrenching.