00:00So firstly, I don't want to in any way minimise the decision of the Israeli government to close the embassy.
00:05It is a regrettable decision. It is one that the Irish government did not wish to see.
00:09We believe in diplomacy and we believe in continuing to talk to governments even when you vehemently disagree with their
00:15policies.
00:16But I do note from time to time the Israeli government chooses to go on the offence against other countries
00:24and then as a result the public discourse reflects on that rather than on the fact that I believe it's
00:29highly likely that war crimes are being carried out in the Middle East.
00:33That we support the International Court of Justice, that we support the International Criminal Court
00:38and that we took the decision in May along with Spain and Norway to recognise the state of Palestine.
00:44I believe in freedom of speech and people are entitled to articulate their views but they're not entitled to have
00:49an alternative set of facts.
00:50What's happening in the Middle East, what's happening in Gaza is extraordinarily serious.
00:56I mean Ireland's position has been clear on this from day one.
00:59We want to see the release of all hostages, absolutely.
01:01We condemned the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, 100%, absolutely horrific terrorist attack.
01:08But we also know that there are innocent children who are dying, who are being maimed, who are suffering
01:15in a way that I'm not sure the whole world can yet even fully comprehend until we see and get
01:19into Gaza.
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