Irish Prime Minister: Israel's Actions in Gaza are Closer to Vengeance

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar described Israel's actions in Gaza today, Friday, as "something closer to vengeance" in some of the strongest criticisms directed at Israel by a leader of a European Union member state. Health authorities in Gaza report that at least 9,061 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its attack on the strip, which is home to 2.3 million people, in response to deadly assaults by Hamas militants on southern Israel. Varadkar told reporters during a visit to South Korea, according to statements broadcast by the official RTE radio: "I firmly believe that Israel has the right to defend itself and to pursue Hamas. What I see happening right now is not just self-defense. It looks more like something closer to vengeance. This is not the situation we should be in."