Israel Closes Embassy in Ireland Amid Tensions

Israel has announced the closure of its embassy in Dublin, citing Ireland's 'extreme anti-Israel policies' and accusing the Irish government of antisemitism. This decision follows Ireland's recognition of a Palestinian state and its support for South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized Ireland's actions as part of a campaign to delegitimize the Jewish state and stated that Israel will redirect its diplomatic focus towards more supportive nations. In response, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris expressed disappointment, asserting that Ireland is 'pro-peace, pro-human rights, and pro-international law,' and emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue. The diplomatic tensions have escalated further, with Ireland highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where significant civilian casualties have been reported. Israel, on the other hand, has dismissed the allegations of genocide as 'absurd' and blamed Hamas for the violence in Gaza.