A number of people left and others were removed from a Holocaust commemoration at the Round Room of the Mansion House in Dublin, in protest over President Michael D Higgins' speech.
The event, which took place over two hours, marked 80 years since the end of World War II and to remember victims of the Holocaust.
There was controversy in the run up to this year's commemoration with some in the Jewish community objecting to the invite offered to President Higgins.
They took issue with the inclusion of comments about Gaza by President Higgins at last year's memorial and more recent remarks on the issue.
However, Holocaust Education Ireland, which organised the commemoration said while some Jewish people were critical of this year’s invite, others were supportive.
President Higgins, who was the first to speak at the event, began by noting the atrocity of the Holocaust.
"What people could see at the opening of the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau was not only the dead, the emaciated.
"They were confronted with the consequences of something that had a complex design and cruelty aimed at the extermination of the Jewish population of Europe and the objects of life that were their intimacies, that they had brought with them, and with them were included other categories - the disabled, Romani, those of same-sexual orientation - all defined as an 'other’ to be eliminated," President Higgins said.
He added that the world is currently "enduring a period of rising political authoritarianism, polarisation, and violence.
"Such an atmosphere threatens democracy, promotes racism, division and exclusion. For far too many, the averting of one’s gaze is now seen as acceptable.
"It is as if the best of aspirations for a cohesive world in conditions of change are being perceived as a lost cause, even an obstacle."
President Higgins quoted both the Israeli peace activist Maoz Inon and the Palestinian peace activist Aziz Abu Sarah who, he said, while each carrying a near-unbearable grief, were asking people to listen to each other.
People started walking out and others turned their back to him when President Higgins said:
"Those in Israel who mourn their loved ones, those who have been waiting for the release of hostages, or the thousands searching for relatives in the rubble in Gaza will welcome the long-overdue ceasefire for which there has been such a heavy price paid."
Lior Tibet was amongst those taken from the building by security, although she struggled to avoid being "kicked out".
"We stood up. We turn our backs as peaceful as we could. No shouting, no posters, no nothing.
"And then someone came and grabbed me to leave the vicinity, which again, it's our event to commemorate. How am I, as a Jew, being kicked out of my event?", she questioned.
Ms Tibet, who is a tutor in UCD, said she was offended over the parallel between the Holocaust and what is happening with Gaza.
"You don't know my political opinions about Israel. I'm very critical about the Israeli state and what is happening here. I'm not supportive of anything.
She added: "I would want to see the war ended 13 months before and all the hostages back, want to see the war ended, is not the case, I'm responsible to that.
"None of my Israeli and Jewish friends are responsible to that and to see Higgins hijacking our commemoration event is just unbearable."
Some protesting at the event was expected, according to Holocaust Education Ireland Chairperson Tom O’Dowd.
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"It turned out to be a very small protest. It didn't stop the President in his stride.
"And I think it is worth pointing out that the President has spent a lifetime fighting for civil and human rights, and I don't think he would object to people objecting either," he said.
Some of those who left the room were facilitated in re-entering for the remainder of the commemoration, which overall Mr O'Dowd described as a moving, solemn ceremony.
"I think everyone who comes here, and some people have been here for years, all find it incredibly moving and it's very necessary to remember the victims," he said.
Sunday was the seventh time President Higgins addressed the annual commemoration.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain was in attendance as were diplomats, religious leaders, and public representatives.
