Ireland’s Chief Rabbi: Israeli attacks on Gaza have ‘very good ratio’ of civilian to militant casualties

The Israel defence forces (IDF) has previously stated that for every one Hamas militant killed, two civilians have also died.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Chief Rabbi Yoni Wieder said the Jewish community “feels huge pain and anguish over every innocent civilian life that’s lost”.

“When we see the images coming out of Gaza we feel the same pain,” he said, but then added: “We just see that as the responsibility of Hamas.”

“I think… if you compare the ratios of civilians to terrorist casualties in this war, it’s a very good ratio compared to other wars, historically. So there definitely are things that Israel could have done better but overarchingly, yes, it’s the responsibility of Hamas,” he said.

The Chief Rabbi’s comments are at odds with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), which said in March that more children have been killed in the Gaza strikes than in four years of conflict worldwide.

As Israel said it expects the assault on Gaza to last until at least the end of this year, IDF tanks on Wednesday advanced into central Rafah, before retreating.

Its moves into central Rafah came despite an order from the International Court of Justice to end its attacks on the city, where many Palestinians had taken refuge from bombardment elsewhere.

The US said it did not believe the incursion was a “major ground operation” that might lead to a change in its policy of support for Israel.

Of the civilian casualties, Chief Rabbi Weider said: “Until the dust settles, we’re not going to know the facts on the ground. If you look at the way wars have been carried out in the past, this is not a new phenomenon. 

“It’s not being acknowledged that this is a fact of war, it’s a tragic fact of war, it’s a heartbreaking fact of war, but this is what has happened in all wars.”

Despite international condemnation of Israel’s actions, the Chief Rabbi blamed Hamas for the thousands of women and children killed in the Palestinian enclave and raised concerns that the Jewish community in Ireland now feels “vulnerable”.

His comments came as Ireland this week formally recognised the state of Palestine, which he suggested was a step too far.

“I think the recognition, at this stage, of the Palestinian state has already been seen by Hamas as a reward for what they did on October 7 and a reward for the fact that they’ve hidden behind their own civilians as human shields for the past seven months.”

The newly appointed rabbi, who took aim at President Michael D Higgins at a rally over the weekend for his comments on antisemitism, said the community he leads now feels isolated.

“Some people in the Jewish community that you speak to will tell you that they are scared physically, they are afraid physically, even if things haven’t happened yet. 

“There’s a strong historical consciousness that antisemitism in the past has begun with speech and then escalated into physical violence.” 

In an interview with the Irish Examiner last week, President Higgins said encouraging fear among the Jewish community in Ireland is “deeply irresponsible” and a “PR exercise” by an Israeli administration that is guilty of breaching international law in Gaza.

It is understood that the rabbi is now seeking to speak with the President to discuss the comments.

New legislation

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has promised to introduce legislation to allow for random searches of aircraft coming through Ireland that could potentially be carrying weapons for Israel.

The Green Party leader said that existing legislation expressly prohibits aircraft to carry munitions through Ireland without an exemption. However, it does not allow for random checks.

“No airport in Ireland, or Irish sovereign airspace, is currently being used to transport weapons directly to Israel, despite claims otherwise,” said Mr Ryan.