{"id":57530,"date":"2025-09-11T15:14:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/57530\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T15:14:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:14:07","slug":"taoiseach-accuses-sinn-fein-of-nasty-attack-on-jim-gavin-over-gaza-remarks-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/57530\/","title":{"rendered":"Taoiseach accuses Sinn F\u00e9in of \u2018nasty\u2019 attack on Jim Gavin over Gaza remarks \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taoiseach Mich\u00e9al Martin<\/a> has accused Sinn F\u00e9in<\/a> of \u201cnasty\u201d and negative tactics after the Opposition party criticised the Fianna F\u00e1il<\/a> presidential candidate Jim Gavin<\/a> over remarks he made about the war in Gaza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In an interview this week, Mr Gavin had called for an end to the bombing in Gaza while noting it continued even after Israel\u2019s \u201cmilitary objectives have probably been reached\u201d.<\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in TD Pearse Doherty described Mr Gavin\u2019s remarks as \u201cshocking\u201d and \u201cdisgraceful\u201d in the context of the scale of Palestinian casualties. Mr Doherty said the comments should be \u201cwithdrawn\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, Fianna F\u00e1il hit back, arguing that the rival party was \u201cstarting its negative campaign\u201d as it recognised Mr Gavin was a \u201cstrong candidate\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Taoiseach further criticised Sinn F\u00e9in on Thursday, accusing it of distorting Mr Gavin\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Jim Gavin \u2018honoured\u2019 to be selected as Fianna F\u00e1il presidential candidateOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

\u201cJim Gavin was very clear in that interview\u201d and \u201csaid it was unconscionable what was happening,\u201d Mr Martin said, when questioned by reporters in Dublin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy is Sinn F\u00e9in always trying to create division on this question, trying to be more virtuous than the other person, trying to sort of say, well, that person is for Israel or whatever when they clearly are not?\u201d<\/p>\n

The Taoiseach added: \u201cThis is a distortion by Sinn F\u00e9in, and it\u2019s nasty, and it should stop, because Jim Gavin has all his life been a peacekeeper. He\u2019s been involved in conflict resolution and he was involved in one of the largest humanitarian exercises undertaken by the UN in Chad …<\/p>\n

\u201cI would say to Sinn F\u00e9in: cut it out. We\u2019ve had it in the D\u00e1il now from the far left and from Sinn F\u00e9in for far too long.\u201d <\/p>\n

Former Dublin football boss Mr Gavin, who had a career in the Defence Forces, was selected as Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s presidential election candidate<\/a> earlier this week. <\/p>\n

During an interview with Virgin Media television Mr Gavin said: \u201cI believe Ireland has been very strong in terms of what\u2019s happening in Gaza. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable what\u2019s happening at the moment. It\u2019s unconscionable that we have a man-made famine in 2025. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable that the bombing is still taking place when I would believe that the military objectives have probably been reached for that military campaign. The bombing needs to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added there is a need to get aid to the people of Gaza \u201cimmediately\u201d and he also called for the Israeli hostages taken during the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 to be returned.<\/p>\n

Mr Gavin made similar comments questioning why the bombing is continuing despite the military objectives being \u201cachieved\u201d during an interview with Newstalk radio.<\/p>\n

During that interview, he also agreed with the suggestion that Israel\u2019s actions in Gaza are a genocide.<\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in TD Mr Doherty referred to Mr Gavin\u2019s remarks in the television interview and said: \u201cThis is a disgraceful way to talk about the brutal slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and children.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a post on X, he added: \u201cThe forced starvation of an entire population! The destruction of Gaza! It\u2019s a genocide, Jim.\u201d<\/p>\n

He described the presidential candidate\u2019s remarks as \u201cshameful\u201d and said they should be \u201cwithdrawn immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

This is shocking! Fianna Fail\u2019s Presidential candidate Jim Gavin says on Israel\u2019s war crimes in Gaza, \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable that the bombing is still taking place when I believe that the military objectives have probably been reached for that military campaign.\u201d <\/p>\n

This is a\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) September 10, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in is yet to decide if it will field its own presidential candidate or row in with left-wing parties behind Independent TD Catherine Connolly\u2019s campaign. <\/p>\n

A Fianna F\u00e1il spokeswoman responded to Mr Doherty\u2019s criticism, saying: \u201cIt is clear that Sinn F\u00e9in recognise what a strong candidate Jim Gavin is and is starting its negative campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cJim 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\u2019s what his short answer addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The spokeswoman also said: \u201cDeputy Doherty\u2019s statement is an example of the type of politics which causes so many people to be cynical. <\/p>\n

\u201cJim Gavin is unequivocal in his condemnation of the Israeli government\u2019s genocidal actions. Hopefully this campaign will be spared this sort of fake outrage and cynical misrepresentation.\u201d<\/p>\n