'We will not be silenced'

THE Irish premier has said that Ireland will not be silenced about its views on Israel's war on Gaza, after Israel said it would close its Dublin embassy.

Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar announced the closure in a statement on Sunday, saying it was due to the "extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government", accusing Ireland of "crossing every red line".

Simon Harris accused Israel of engaging in "distraction" policies, adding that he was very proud of Ireland standing up for the Palestinian people.

Earlier this year, the Irish government officially recognised the Palestinian state and, last week, it emerged that Ireland would formally intervene in South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Israel's ambassador to Dublin was recalled in May following the Palestinian state recognition.