Taoiseach Micheál Martin has condemned Hamas for "parading the bodies of Israeli hostages", describing their actions during a handover in Gaza as "callous".
Earlier, Hamas handed over the bodies of four hostages to the Red Cross. The coffins had been placed on a stage, with armed Hamas militants in black and camouflage uniforms surrounding the area.
Among the bodies returned were Israeli infant Kfir Bibas and his four-year-old brother Ariel, the two youngest captives taken by Hamas in their 7 October 2023 attack.
Mr Martin said Hamas "must be condemned unreservedly".
He said: "The taking of hostages is in itself a most evil act.
"For Hamas to compound that by parading the bodies of Israeli hostages, including two young children, is callous, appalling and beyond any moral compass.
"It must be condemned unreservedly."
The taking of hostages is in itself a most evil act.
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 20, 2025
For Hamas to compound that by parading the bodies of Israeli hostages, including two young children, is callous, appalling and beyond any moral compass.
It must be condemned unreservedly.
Tánaiste Simon Harris described the "parading of caskets" of Israeli hostages by Hamas as "despicable".
Mr Harris, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, described the scene as "cruel, heartbreaking and utterly despicable".
He added: "It is a stark reminder of the brutality of October 7.
"We must see an enduring peace in the Middle East, where neither terrorism nor bombing of innocent civilians is tolerated."
The parading of caskets of young children by Hamas today was cruel, heartbreaking and utterly despicable
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) February 20, 2025
It is a stark reminder of the brutality of October 7
We must see an enduring peace in the Middle East, where neither terrorism nor bombing of innocent civilians is tolerated
The UN human rights group also denounced the "abhorrent and cruel" manner in which Hamas staged the handover of the bodies.
"The parading of bodies in the manner seen this morning is abhorrent and cruel, and flies in the face of international law," said the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"We urge that all returns are conducted in privacy, and with respect and care," it added.
"Under international law, any handover of the remains of deceased must comply with the prohibition of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, ensuring respect for the dignity of the deceased and their families," UN rights chief Volker Turk added.
Read more: Hamas hands over bodies of youngest Israeli hostages
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock meanwhile said it demonstrated Hamas's "limitless terror".
She said: "Four coffins, presented on stage -- images that are unbearable.
"Until the very end, the families of the hostages are exposed to Hamas's limitless terror. My thoughts are with them. Hopefully they are soon able to mourn their loved ones and bury them with dignity."
The Red Cross said the return of dead hostages should be done in private.
"These operations should be done privately out of the utmost respect for the deceased and for those left grieving. We have been unequivocal: every release - whether of the living or the deceased - must be conducted with dignity and privacy," the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said in a statement.
The ICRC, a neutral intermediary responsible for releasing hostages and Palestinian prisoners under the terms of the ceasefire, has repeatedly called for improvements.
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