Israel has announced the closure of its embassy in Ireland, citing the Irish government’s recent support for a petition at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide.
The decision was announced by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who criticised Ireland’s stance as “extremely anti-Israeli”, highlighting Ireland’s decision to join South Africa’s legal action at the ICJ as a primary factor behind the move.
The diplomatic tensions underscore the longstanding strained relations between the two nations, rooted in Ireland’s pro-Palestinian stance. In previous instances, Israel had recalled its ambassador to Dublin following Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state.
The Israeli foreign ministry has accused Ireland of engaging in rhetoric and actions that delegitimise and demonise the Jewish state, alleging double standards in its approach. Despite other nations, including Egypt, Spain, and Mexico, also supporting the ICJ petition, Israel has not taken similar measures against them.
This development comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Gaza conflict, with the Palestinian death toll surpassing 45,000 since the war began following Hamas’s October 7 attack last year. Israeli airstrikes have continued to target northern Gaza, with recent strikes killing dozens of civilians, including children and journalists.
Irish leaders have expressed regret over Israel’s decision, defending the country’s commitment to peace, human rights, and international law. Ireland has been vocal in advocating for a two-state solution and has framed its ICJ intervention as an effort to broaden the interpretation of genocide under international law, citing concerns about the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, described the military actions in Gaza as collective punishment, pointing to the large-scale civilian casualties and displacement.
In response to the closure, Israel announced plans to redirect its diplomatic resources to countries that seek stronger ties, including the opening of a new embassy in Moldova, which it considers more supportive of Israeli interests. Sa’ar emphasised that Israel’s diplomatic restructuring would align with the attitudes of individual nations towards it in the political arena.
Adding to the tensions, Ireland had previously stated its willingness to detain Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited, following the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) issuance of an arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes, including starvation and persecution. Israel has appealed the ICC’s warrants against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.