LAST UPDATE | 7 Oct

THE IRISH GOVERNMENT has once again called for the release of hostages in Gaza, one year on from the 7 October terror attacks in Israel led by militant group Hamas.

The attacks by Hamas resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures.

More than 240 hostages were taken, 97 of whom remain unaccounted for. 

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: “The horror of these attacks remains imprinted in our minds. I reiterate Ireland’s unequivocal condemnation of them.  

“I think today of the hostages still in Gaza and their families who desperately want them home. I call again for their immediate release.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris joined Martin in his call, saying: “I repeat my call that all remaining hostages must be released immediately and without conditions.”

“Those responsible for the acts of 7 October should be held accountable,” Harris said. “Civilians’ lives are of equal value. The suffering that comes from the loss of a loved one is the same, whoever we are.

“We have a duty as leaders to honour the memory of those lost and to rededicate ourselves to creating a political process that can deliver a just and lasting peace.”

Martin meanwhile added that he recognised “the hurt and sorrow of the Israeli people, and of the Jewish and Israeli communities here in Ireland and throughout the world.”

He extended “profound sympathy” to those mourning the loss of those brutally murdered, and said that he was thinking especially of the family and friends of Kim Damti.

Kim Damti was a 22-year-old Irish-Israeli woman who was killed in the attacks.

She had remained unaccounted for, having been attending a music festival when Hamas carried out a bloody mass-shooting on the event, which was attended by hundreds of young Israelis and foreigners near Kibbutz Reim, close to Gaza.

Martin said as well as Kim’s family and friends, his thoughts were also with Emily Hand, a young girl who was kidnapped by Hamas and held hostage for almost 50 days.

Emily, who was eight-years-old at the time, had been on a sleepover in the Kibbutz Be’eri where she lived, when it was raided by Hamas.

Emily’s father, Tom, who is from Dublin, was initially told she had died in the attack. 

“My thoughts are with Emily Hand and her family, wishing her continuing strength to overcome the trauma she and so many experienced,” Martin said.

“No young adult should be murdered attending a music festival. No young child should spend her ninth birthday in the hands of terrorists.”

Violence in Gaza

Martin added that despite it being the anniversary of the condemned terror attack carried out on Israel, “It is not possible to view this anniversary in isolation from the justifiable outrage at the death and destruction suffered by ordinary Palestinians in Gaza over the past twelve months.”

According to figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry, over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks in the year since the Hamas attacks on Israel.

Martin said that Ireland’s position has been clear, and that there must be an end to the violence. 

“There must be an immediate ceasefire and hostage release deal, and a massive scaling up of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

“Our thoughts are with the Lebanese people. The level of death, destruction and displacement is shocking and unacceptable.

“We must act quickly to avoid further regional escalation and urgently revive a political process.

“The most effective rejection of terrorism and extremism and the greatest mark of respect to all who have suffered in this conflict is to redouble our efforts now to secure a lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.”