The Taoiseach has said he has 'huge sympathy' for the Palestinian people who have been 'horribly treated' for the past 75 years.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Leo Varadkar said Irish people have a 'particular sympathy' towards the Palestinians but must remember that there is a 'propaganda war' underway between Israel and Hamas.
It follows a huge blast which ripped through the al Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Tuesday, where hundreds of Palestinians had taken refuge amid an Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip.
Ireland has announced €13 million in additional funding for humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people as the conflict continues between Israel and Hamas.
Limited quantities of humanitarian aid are set to flow into Gaza from Egypt following a request by US President Joe Biden on Wednesday.
Mr Varadkar said he believes Irish people have a particular sympathy towards the Palestinian people.
"We all have to be very careful about our own sympathies and prejudices," he said.
"I think Israel's a great country, I've had a chance to visit on a number of occasions, but I've huge sympathy for the Palestinian people.
"They've been horribly treated now for 75 years and denied self-determination and denied their own state.
"I think Irish people, given our own history, have a particular sympathy towards Palestinians.
"We have to be careful about what we believe here, because this is a war.
"Israel will not necessarily tell the truth or the whole truth and nor will Hamas."
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with Newstalk Breakfast presenters Ciara Kelly and Shane Coleman in studio. Image: NewstalkMr Varadkar said it is not clear what happened at the al Ahli Hospital.
"I think the attack on the hospital demonstrates, once again, the extent to which truth is the first casualty in war," he said.
"The fact that there's a propaganda war going on here as well as a military war, it's not really clear what happened.
"We don't definitely know what happened, but we know what was reported two days ago - that Israel attacked a hospital and killed 500 people - it's not clear that any of that is true.
"It seems the bomb hit the carpark or concourse rather than the hospital itself, and the death toll seems to have been a lot lower.
"It is very possible that it was a Palestinian rocket that misfired, but Hamas seized the PR opportunity that arises from atrocities like this," he added.
President Michael D Higgins is seen in Co Wicklow in October 2021. Image: Damien Eagers / RollingNews.ieMr Varadkar has said he welcomes views that President Michael D Higgins may express.
Earlier this week, President Higgins criticised comments by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen around EU solidarity with Israel.
Mr Varadkar said he will not criticise President Higgins.
"I think the President is above politics, and I've a very good relationship with the President," he said.
"I'm not going to criticise him in any way.
"The Constitution is clear: foreign policy is a matter for Government, and we're the ones who will articulate that.
"To be honest I generally welcome views of the President, he's not the first President to be outspoken.
"President Robinson was too, and I remember she used to run into some difficulties with governments at the time.
"We don't have any difficulty in our relationship with the President, it's a very strong one.
"I think by-and-large Irish people respect that he's somebody who has views and is willing to articulate them."
File photo shows European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking to reporters in Brussels on the Russia/Ukraine situation. Image: European UnionMr Varadkar also suggested Ms von der Leyen's viewpoint may be different to others.
"Bear in mind everyone comes from their own perspective here," he said.
"Ursula's from Germany and there's particular historical reasons as to why they may sympathise with Israel in the way we tend to sympathise more with Palestine.
"That has to be understood and appreciated," he added.
