The Israeli foreign minister has said he has summoned the Irish ambassador in Tel Aviv "for a reprimand" following Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's statement on the release of Emily Hand.
Following the news that the Irish-Israeli girl had been freed by Hamas, Mr Varadkar last night tweeted: “This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. 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.”
Mr Varadkar’s tweet has gained significant attention, particularly for his use of the words “lost and found".
This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. 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.
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) November 25, 2023
In response to Mr Varadkar, the Israeli foreign minister, Eli Cohen said: "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 that murdered her stepmother," he said.
He said: "Emily and more than 30 other Israeli children were taken hostage by Hamas, and you Leo Varadkar are trying to legitimize and normalize terror. Shame on you!"
In a follow-up tweet, Eli Cohen said: "Following the outrageous words of the Prime Minister of Ireland about the release of Amelie Hand, who was kidnapped to Gaza by the terrorist organization Hamas, I summoned the Irish ambassador to Israel for a reprimand."
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 that murdered her stepmother.
Emily and more than 30 other Israeli children were taken hostage by Hamas,… https://t.co/CD5wIZJN4i— אלי כהן | Eli Cohen (@elicoh1) November 26, 2023
He did not give any further detail on when the ambassador, Sonya McGuinness, would be summoned or what the "reprimand" would be.
