Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Sunday that Israel is closing its embassy in Dublin. He said this decision was due to Ireland's "actions and antisemitic remarks against Israel."

Ireland has been one of the strongest European critics of Israel's response to the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, which led to the ongoing war in Gaza. The October 7 attacks, carried out by Hamas-led militants—recognised as a terrorist organisation by countries like Israel, Germany and the US—resulted in around 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, and the abduction of about 250 people. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, which is managed by Hamas, Israel's military onslaught has killed around 45,000 Palestinians and left the beleaguered enclave in ruins.

Israel mentioned two reasons for closing its embassy: the Irish government's decision to recognise Palestine as a state and its involvement in an international genocide case against Israel. "It should be noted that in the past, Israel's ambassador to Dublin was recalled following Ireland's unilateral decision to recognise a 'Palestinian state.' "Last week, Ireland announced its support for South Africa's legal action against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of 'genocide,'" Saar's statement said. "The actions and antisemitic rhetoric used by Ireland against Israel are rooted in the delegitimisation and demonisation of the Jewish state, along with double standards," the foreign minister added. "Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel."

Saar mentioned that Israel would shift its focus to strengthening ties with other countries and, on Sunday, announced the launch of an embassy in Moldova. Meanwhile, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and Norway officially recognised Palestine as a state this year. Ireland announced on Wednesday that it would submit an intervention at the UN's top court in The Hague later this month, following the government's approval of the decision that same day. The ICJ is being asked to "broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide by a state," according to the Irish Foreign Ministry. Simon Harris, the prime minister of Ireland, called the action taken by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration a "deeply regrettable decision."

"I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law," Ireland's leader wrote on X. "Ireland wants a two-state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that." Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin said Ireland has no plans to shut its embassy in Israel, noting that the embassy is doing important work. "Ireland and Israel will continue to maintain diplomatic relations," said Martin. "Inherent in that is the right to agree and disagree on fundamental points." Since October 7, 2023, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations have centred around Israel's embassy in Dublin.