Israel's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that it would summon the Irish ambassador over a tweet celebrating the release of a 9-year-old girl from Hamas captivity, alleging the post didn't adequately condemn the militant group. Earlier in the day, the Irish prime minister lauded the release of Emily Hand, an Israeli-Irish girl whose story has captivated both nations. "An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar posted on X, the AP reports.
The girl initially was believed to have been killed in the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel by Hamas and other militants. A month ago, her father learned that she was actually alive and among about 240 people held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Emily was one of 17 hostages released by Hamas on Saturday. Israeli government officials criticized Varadkar's tweet, arguing that it cast what happened to Emily as a disappearance rather than a violent abduction by Hamas militants. "Mr. Prime Minister, It seems you have lost your moral compass and need a reality check! Emily Hand was not 'lost,' she was kidnapped by a terror organization worse than ISIS," Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen tweeted.
Cohen accused Varadkar of "trying to legitimize and normalize terror" and summoned the Irish ambassador for a reprimand. Irish government figures came to the prime minister's defense. The Irish minister for public expenditure, Paschal Donohoe, said Varadkar has been "unambiguous in condemning the violence of Hamas and also calling for restraint from Israeli military forces." Ireland's foreign affairs department said the ambassador is scheduled to meet Israeli Foreign Ministry officials on Monday. The summons is the third issued by Israel since the start of the war against Hamas, per the AP. Israel called in the ambassadors of Belgium and Spain after the countries' leaders criticized Israel over the civilian death toll in Gaza.
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