Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has said Hamas should play no role in any future Palestinian state as he pushed back against comments made by Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly and Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin.
Ms Connolly said in a BBC Radio Ulster interview that Hamas is "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people" as she criticised comments made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. This morning she also said both Israel and Hamas "committed war crimes".
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One News yesterday, Mr Gavin said that while "Hamas have not been good to the Palestinian people, ultimately it will be up to the Palestinian people in that two-state solution to vote and to recommend who represents them".
Mr Harris said Ireland’s position on Hamas is "absolutely crystal clear".
"Hamas is despicable, illegal, terrorist organisation that has brought nothing but misery and pain to the people of Israel and the people of Palestine.
"It offers the people of Palestine no future, and indeed, when I stood on the steps of Government buildings with Micheál Martin and Eamon Ryan and when we recognised, as three parties then in Government, the State of Palestine, I specifically said that we were doing so in the hope of showing there was a viable alternative to Hamas," he said.
Mr Harris added: "There can be no role for a terrorist organisation in the future governance...Let me be really clear here at the United Nations today, Ireland, the Irish Government, the people of Ireland have no truck with Hamas, no time for Hamas. They need to get off the stage and that is the position, end of."
The Tánaiste also said "it’s always good to take questions" after Ms Connolly’s decision not to accept questions from journalists at a campaign event last night.
"Obviously when the Fine Gael candidate had her campaign launch, she rightly sat in a room and took questions for a long period of time... In fairness to Catherine Connolly, I heard her on radio this morning. So, I know she is out taking questions.
"It's for her to decide how she wishes to conduct that. But this campaign is coming in fast now ... and therefore, you know, obviously the level understandably of media and public interest in the in the campaign will increase," Mr Harris said.
Both Israel and Hamas committed war crimes, says Connolly
Ms Connolly this morning said both Israel and Hamas "committed war crimes" after saying yesterday that Hamas is "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people".
In relation to yesterday's comments, Ms Connolly said she has condemned Hamas' actions, in particular saying its attack on 7 October 2023 was "absolutely unacceptable", stressing that both sides have committed war crimes and hopefully both sides will be held to account.
Ms Connolly has formally submitted her nomination papers to contest next month's Presidential Election.
She did so at 3pm, ahead of the deadline for nominations which closes at noon tomorrow.
Asked about her comments on Hamas as she arrived at the Customs House to hand in her papers, the Independent candidate said "every single conflict is different".
She said "Hamas is a terrorist organisation" and that "October seventh was outrageous", but also said that people have a right to choose who they vote for in all democracies.
During the same press briefing, Deputy Connolly said she did not "dodge questions" and said she would "like to see what other candidates" have as much scrutiny of their views.
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, she said: "They [Hamas] were elected by the people the last time there was an election, there was overwhelming support for them back in 2006 or 2007. And they are part of the civil society of Palestine.
"But history did not start on the seventh of October and at some stage parties outside of Palestine and Israel must begin to look at what has led to this conflict and how it can be resolved and resolved it must.
"In the meantime, the slaughter is going on and the genocide is going on and I've travelled the country. I'll be travelling it again and it's the top of the list for everyone that I'm talking to, of course all the other issues, housing and health, but the ongoing genocide, people are appealing to us, please stop it.
"The 80-something per cent of the people that have died or have received injuries are civilians."
Ms Connolly said that she does agree with the designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
However, she said: "Israel is acting as a terrorist state. Both have to sit down at some stage. I mean, let's look at what Israel are doing and call it out for what it is.
"They're absolutely out of control."
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It comes after Ms Connolly said on a BBC Radio Ulster interview yesterday that Hamas is "part of the fabric of the Palestinian people".
Her comments came while criticising British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for saying Hamas should be excluded from any future Palestinian government.
She said that it is not up to foreign leaders to determine who leads the people of Palestine.
No settlement without Hamas and Israel engaging in dialogue - Carthy
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said Hamas are "part of the situation in Palestine and there is no doubt about that".
He said what Catherine Connolly has said and what she believes is that the actions of Hamas on 7 October 2023 were war crimes which were abhorrent and indefensible.
Mr Carthy said there will be no negotiated peace settlement without Israel and Hamas engaging in meaningful dialogue.
"From an Irish perspective, people have come through a peace process. We know the most difficult part of building peace...is knowing people have to talk with others who you profoundly disagree with.
"The truth of the matter is that the people of Gaza elected Hamas whether we like that or not."
Responding to Ms Connolly's comments, Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said it was "important that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination".
She said this was a "key principle in international law".
She said: "For us, we have consistently condemned Hamas. We were one of the first parties condemning them after 7 October."
However, Ms Whitmore said that "any peace process is very, very complex".
"As part of any peace process, people who were on different sides of any war or aggression - they do eventually have to sit down and talk," she added.
She said a "free and fair election" would allow Palestinians to vote for the people that they want.
However, Ms Whitmore added that this is "such a long way away".
The Labour Party's Ged Nash said he was glad Ms Connolly made clear that she considers Hamas to be a terrorist organisation.
He said: "What she did today is clarify. I wouldn't have used the language that she used. She could have been clearer."
Mr Nash said it is not for him to determine to the Palestinian people who is on their ballot paper.
"It is obviously up to the Palestinian people who they vote for," he said.
He said the view of his party is that an organisation like Hamas "wouldn't have a function in the future governance arrangements of a place like Palestine".
'President's role in united Ireland to articulate Article Three' - Connolly
Ms Connolly said she does not have a new-found interest in Northern Ireland but it has always existed.
"I have repeatedly gone to Northern Ireland in different capacities but it's something I didn't announce.
"I went up as chair of the Irish committee. I went up in my own personal capacity. I've met groups on both sides of the divide, and I'd like to say diverse communities," she said.
She said she is very aware of the constitution and Article Three but that any move towards a united Ireland would involve political decision by governments.
She stressed that the president's role would be to articulate Article Three.
She said she had an open mind and looked forward to the debate that would ensue on the issue.
However everything must be done with respect and consent, she added.
"All parties were involved in the Good Friday Agreement and civil society also played a huge role," Ms Connolly said, adding that going forward everyone must be involved equally.
"It would have to be that everybody is involved equally. Absolutely, we have to respect both every tradition and every community in the six counties," she said.
Ms Connolly said she is delighted that parties, including Sinn Fein, have come in behind her, adding that "they see that I have characteristics that they wish to see in a President".
Additional reporting Róísín Cullen & Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
