Taoiseach Micheál Martin has defended Jim Gavin's comments on Gaza while accusing Sinn Féin of an "appalling distortion".
In a recent interview, the Fianna Fáil candidate said: "It's unconscionable that the bombing is still taking place when I believe that the military objectives have probably been reached for that military campaign."
The Fianna Fáil leader said Mr Gavin was very clear in his interview that what was happening was unconscionable.
Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty said this was a disgraceful way to talk about the brutal slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and children.
Mr Doherty, who is viewed as a possible presidential candidate himself, called on Mr Gavin to withdraw the comments immediately.
"It's a genocide, Jim," he said.
Mr Martin he accused Sinn Féin of attempting to sow division and trying to insinuate that somebody is supporting Israel when they are a not.
"It’s a distortion and it’s nasty and it should stop. Jim Gavin has all his life been a peacekeeper."
Mr Martin said he hoped that this was not a reflection of what the Presidential Election would be for Sinn Féin.
Earlier, a Fianna Fáil spokesperson accused Sinn Féin of starting a negative campaign because it recognised that Mr Gavin was a strong candidate.
"Jim Gavin was a senior officer in one of the largest civil protection missions of the 21st century. His first reaction is always to focus on saving lives and that’s what his short answer addressed.
"Deputy Doherty’s statement is an example of the type of politics which causes so many people to be cynical.
"Jim Gavin is unequivocal in his condemnation of the Israeli government’s genocidal actions. Hopefully this campaign will be spared this sort of fake outrage and cynical misrepresentation," they said.
The war in Gaza began following the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023, that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel's retaliatory war in Gaza has killed over 64,000 people, also mostly civilians, according to local health authorities, and reduced the Palestinian enclave to rubble.
Last month, the United Nations declared famine in parts of Gaza, warning that 500,000 people face "catastrophic" conditions.
