Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar attends the informal meeting of European heads of state or government, in Granada, Spain October 6, 2023.—Reuters/Juan Medina/file photo
Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar attends the informal meeting of European heads of state or government, in Granada, Spain October 6, 2023.—Reuters/Juan Medina/file photo

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “something approaching revenge”, in some of the strongest criticism of Israel by a leader of a European Union member state, Reuters reports.

“I strongly believe that … Israel has the right to defend itself, has the right to go after Hamas, that they cannot do this again,” Varadkar told journalists during a visit to South Korea, according to comments broadcast by state radio RTE.

“What I’m seeing unfolding at the moment is not just self-defence. It looks, resembles something more approaching revenge,” Varadkar said. “That’s not where we should be.”

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