Ireland's Prime Minister did not address the context of ongoing Hamas aggression against Israel, a point that has drawn criticism from Israeli officials.

TAOISEACH SIMON HARRIS has expressed Ireland’s “unbreakable” support for the people of Palestine in a phone call with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas today. Harris told Abbas that “the heartbreaking conditions and loss of innocent life in Gaza this year weigh heavily on the minds of many Irish people”,

The Taoiseach has spoken to the Palestinian president to express the "solidarity and unbreakable support of the people of Ireland to the people of Palestine". A statement from the Taoiseach's office said he had told Mahmoud Abbas that the heartbreaking conditions and loss of innocent life in Gaza this year "weighs heavily on the minds of many Irish people as they gather with their families for Christmas this week".