Government defends Leo Varadkar over Emily Hand ‘lost’ tweet amid Israel uproar as Irish ambassador summoned to Jerusalem by Eli Cohen

The row is the latest in an ever-growing list of diplomatic tensions between Ireland and Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, that led to Israel’s war in Gaza.

Mr Varadkar was commenting on X, formerly Twitter, about the release of Emily Hand, describing her as having been “lost” for 50 days.

A video released on Sunday morning shows Emily embracing her father Thomas Hand in an emotional reunion.

Emily was seized from her home in on October 7.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen hit the roof in response to Mr Varadkar’s post.

He furiously wrote in response: “Emily Hand was not lost. Emily Hand was kidnapped by a terrorist organisation worse than Isis after her stepmother was murdered.”

Mr Cohen, who recently met Tánaiste Micheál Martin, added: “Emily and over 30 other Israeli children were kidnapped by Hamas and you are trying to legitimise it. Shame on you!”

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Mr Martin expressed “surprise” at the strength of reaction by Israel’s foreign minister.

Mr Varadkar’s comments had been “a reflection of the happiness that Emily has been released”, Mr Martin said.

“I don’t think more should be read into it.”

He added: “I’m genuinely surprised at this reaction because really the only issue that matters is that Emily Hand is free and back with her family. That’s all that matters.”

The Fianna Fáil leader said it was now a step-by-step recovery and healing process for the family, “and hopefully Emily can come through this trauma”.

Irish Ambassador Sonya McGuinness, who is based in Tel Aviv, will now have to travel to Jerusalem to be formally rebuked.

A government spokesperson said: “The Taoiseach has been unambiguous in his repeated condemnation of the hostage-taking by Hamas and had consistently called for their unconditional release.

“The Irish government was in close contact with the Egyptian, Qatari and Red Cross to help secure her release.”

It was pointed out that family posters of the hostages are headlined with the word ‘Missing.’

The Irish Independent has sought comment from Mr Varadkar.

‘Words matter’

The Israeli Ambassador to Ireland has stepped into the row. Dana Erlich – who has faced political calls here for her expulsion – told the Irish Independent: “Words matter.”

She did not refer directly to the Taoiseach.

“Words matter, especially in war when lives are at stake, and when there is an increase of extreme discourse,” she said.

“It is important to remember Emily was kidnapped by terrorists – who knew very well where she was all this time.”

This was because she was “in their hands”, she said.

“So too is still the fate for many Israeli men women and children who were kidnapped and are still held in Gaza. We continue to work and call for their immediate release.

“For the past weeks we have been working tirelessly with Irish counterparts, and we are all happy to see the return of Emily Hand to her loving family.”.

Mr Cohen’s attack on the Taoiseach broke all normal codes of diplomacy as he began his response tweet: “Emily Hand is not lost. Maybe you have lost your moral compass and your connection to reality.”

He was answering Mr Varadkar, who wrote: “This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family.

“An innocent child who was lost has now returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.”

The Israeli Foreign Ministry itself issued no statement as the bitter reaction threatened to undermine relations between the two countries.

Israel has long seen Ireland as the most pro-Palestinian country in Europe.

In a formal statement welcoming Emily’s release on Saturday night Mr Varadkar also used the word “lost”.

“An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned… a little girl was snatched from her home and held captive for almost seven weeks. She spent her ninth birthday as a hostage,” he said.

“We hope she will soon heal and recover from the traumatic experience in the loving embrace of her family.

“For her family, these seven weeks have been a slow and cruel torture. We all recall the initial response from her father Tom Hand – the painful grief mixed with relief with the mistaken belief that his daughter had not been taken hostage, which turned into an ember of hope when it was discovered she was still alive. Throughout all these different emotions his love has been constant.

“Tom and Emily’s half-sister Natali turned that ember of hope into a flame by channelling their sorrow and campaigning tirelessly for Emily’s release. They travelled across Europe to keep her plight in the public eye.”

I shared their grief and was inspired by their example. Irish people everywhere share in the relief of Emily’s family

Mr Varadkar said that when he met Tom and Natali in Dublin, their pain was “etched on their faces, but so was their courage and determination to ensure that Emily would be freed”.

“I shared their grief and was inspired by their example. Irish people everywhere share in the relief of Emily’s family,” he said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the hostages in Gaza, but we followed particularly closely the fate of Emily, a dual Irish-Israeli citizen. Since our country first heard that she may still be alive, we have hoped beyond hope that her name would be on one of the lists of hostages to be released.

“Emily now returns to her family, but we cannot forget that many more hostages remain in captivity in Gaza. Their fate is unknown, but we hope that like Emily, they will also be allowed to return to their homes and their families.”

He said more generally: “We think of all the families suffering in this troubled region, and we redouble our efforts to work for a permanent ceasefire, and for a just and lasting peace.”

‘Unfortunate’

Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney said on RTÉ’s This Week programme: “I would ask people to read the full text that the Taoiseach sent out.

“Being ‘lost and found’ is a Biblical term. Leo Varadkar has been very clear both publicly and privately about how he sees Hamas as a terrorist organisation.

“I think it is unfortunate that the Israeli Foreign Minister has responded the way he has.”

There will be an opportunity for the Irish Ambassador to put context on what the Taoiseach tweeted when she meets the Israeli Foreign Minister in the next 48 hours, he said.

Mr Coveney said Mr Varadkar was “one of the most balanced voices” in terms of condemning Hamas, but also speaking out in terms of the protection of “Palestinian woman and children and innocent civilians who have suffered so much in recent days”.

He said there were some parties in Dáil Eireann who would not even describe Hamas as a terror organisation, and the question should be asked of them why not.

In an unusual event, Mr Varadkar was staunchly defended on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics by political opponent Pearse Doherty of Sinn Féin.

He said the Taoiseach had repeatedly referred to Emily as being held hostage by Hamas.

“It has been condemned across the board, across the political divide, and by the Taoiseach over and over again,” Mr Doherty said.

“This is absolute deflection from from Israel, who are preparing, I’m sure, to begin their bombardment of Gaza again after the ceasefire. What we need now is a focus to make sure that Israel doesn’t do that, that this ceasefire is a lasting, and that there is space and opportunity for dialogue and a peace process.”

Fianna Fáil junior minister Jack Chambers said the Israeli reaction “completely misrepresents” the Taoiseach, who had been very clear on the hostage-taking.

“Everyone knows his integrity on this matter,” he said.

Jennifer Whitmore TD of the Social Democrats said her party had called for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich and would now reiterate that.