Israel criticized Varadkar’s tweet, arguing that it cast what happened to Emily as a disappearance rather than a violent kidnapping by Hamas terrorists.

Israel condemned the content of a tweet issued by Ireland’s Prime Minister over the release from Hamas captivity of 9-year-old Emily Hand, an Israeli-Irish girl.

“An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar posted on the X social media.

Emily, from kibbutz Be’eri, was one of 17 hostages released by Hamas on Saturday, the second day of a four-day cease-fire. She was initially believed to have been killed in the October 7 Hamas massacre in  southern Israel. A month ago, her father learned that she was actually alive and among about 240 people held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

Israel criticized Varadkar’s tweet, arguing that it cast what happened to Emily as a disappearance rather than a violent kidnapping by Hamas terrorists.

“Mr. Prime Minister, It seems you have lost your moral compass and need a reality check! Emily Hand was not ‘lost,’ she was kidnapped by a terror organization worse than ISIS,” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen tweeted. He said that Varadkar was “trying to legitimize and normalize terror.’’ He  summoned the Irish ambassador to Israel for a reprimand.

In a reaction, Ireland’s foreign affairs department said that the “government has been clear at every stage that all hostages abducted by Hamas should be released immediately and unconditionally.” It said the Irish ambassador was to meet  Israeli foreign ministry officials on Monday.

Israel has also summoned the ambassadors of Belgium and Spain over remarks made by the Belgian and Spanish Prime Ministers on the war in Gaza. They criticized Israel for the high civilian death tol land the Spanish premier called for the European Union to recognize a Palestinian state.