A suggestion that Robbie Keane should not be helming an Israeli football team due to the 'horrific' scenes in Gaza is unhelpful, Stephen Donnelly has said.
The Health Minister was responding to comments from Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who has criticised Keane for continuing to manage Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv, stating that "sport and genocide shouldn't mix".
Keane landed the top job at the Israeli football club back in June and fled Israel in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attack.
Minister Donnelly told The Hard Shoulder he believes it was wrong to single any particular person out.
"I think it was very wrong of Mary Lou McDonald to single out any individual," he said.
"Is she now going to give a list of Irish people working in Israel and say they all need to come home?
"Are we going to look at all the Irish people working in Israel and say, 'You need to come home'.
"Are we going to look at Israelis working here and say, 'You're not welcome'.
"We're absolutely not going to do that."
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly speaking to media outside the Mater Rapid Injury Clinic in Smithfield, Dublin, 06-01-2023. Image: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ieMinister Donnelly described the attacks on both sides as 'horrific'.
"Don't get me wrong: the Hamas attack was horrific, and the new evidence we have coming out on it in terms of people who've witnessed some of the stuff going on would make your blood run cold," he said.
"The Israeli response is horrific - 70% of those being killed women and children - it's horrific what's going on.
"I don't think we should be bringing it down to Irish citizens or individual Israeli or Palestinian citizens.
"I don't think that's helpful," he added.
At least 20,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, according to health officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza.
The United Nations has said some 1.9 million people have been displaced.
A UN Security Council vote on a resolution to increase aid deliveries to Gaza has been delayed as talks continue to avoid a third US veto over a halt in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Calls for a ceasefire in Gaza was also at the centre of this year's Christmas message from President Michael D Higgins.
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