Irish PM says Israel actions in Gaza resemble ‘something approaching revenge’

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Friday 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.
Gaza health authorities say at least 9,061 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its assault on the enclave of 2.3 million people in retaliation for deadly attacks by Hamas militants on southern Israel.
Varadkar told journalists during a visit to South Korea, according to comments broadcast by state radio RTE, “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 said, “What I’m seeing unfolding at the moment isn’t just self defence. It looks, resembles something more approaching revenge.”
He said, “That’s not where we should be. And I don’t think that’s how Israel will guarantee future freedom and future security.”
Asked by a journalist whether Israel’s actions were war crimes, Varadkar said “that’s not for me to determine.”
Israel insists it is acting within international law and that its attacks are intended to destroy Hamas, which operates among the civilian population.