CIVILIAN DEATHS, while regretted, are inevitable during war, the Israeli Embassy in Ireland has said.
In a statement released by the embassy, it claimed that Israel continues to act in self-defence.
“The object is not to destroy Hamas or reoccupy Gaza but to ensure that Hamas stops firing rockets on Israel and smuggling in weapons to kill Israelis,” it said. “Inevitably in war, sometimes there are accidents, and civilians die, which Israel deeply regrets.”
The current situation in Gaza has seen the Palestinian death toll exceed 900, while on the Israeli side the reported number of those killed is at 13.
The offensive, which began on 27 December, has caused protests against Israel’s actions across Ireland and in other European countries.
Last weekend also witnessed a demonstration by supporters of Israel in Dublin, with over 100 people attending a prayer rally organised by the Irish Christian Friends of Israel, where participants waved Israeli flags and sang hymns in support of what was described as Israel’s right to defend itself.
Tom Carew, chair of the Ireland-Israel Friendship League, made reference to the Israeli soldiers killed in the conflict, saying that he is “horrified at all loss of life” but that “this is what happens in war”.
Carew attributed the blame for Palestinian civilian deaths to Hamas, who he accused of “firing from the middle of built-up areas”, leading to Israeli troops attacking areas where civilians live.
He said he hoped that Israel’s actions in Gaza will lead to its freedom from Hamas’ “reign of terror” and that the people of Gaza would be free from “one-party tyranny”.
Paddy Monaghan of the Irish Christian Friends of Israel made reference to the Irish Government’s discourse regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict, stating that it is “one-sided”. He commented: “The Irish Government are consistently pointing the blame at one side, which is unfair.”
Monaghan pointed out that the Irish Christian Friends of Israel “does not give unconditional support to Israel” but disagreed with the suggestion that the blame for the current conflict rests with Israel. He made reference to rocket attacks that landed in Israel from Gaza on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
He said he hoped for peace “with no rocket attacks coming from Gaza”.
Israeli national Yanky Fachler, who has been living in Ireland for 10 years, is dissatisfied with how the conflict has been covered in the Irish media. Having recently been to Israel, Fachler said his return to Ireland felt like “landing on a different planet”.
“The way it’s being reported here is like watching different characters on a different movie,” he said.
