New Irish president said Hamas is part of ‘civil society of Palestine’

Taoiseach (prime minister) Micheál Martin accused the independent of being reluctant to “unequivocally condemn” Hamas’s October 7 attack.

"Catherine Connolly has said it was wrong, but then moved quickly to qualify it by saying oh, everything didn't start on 7 October.

"As if that somehow justified what Hamas did."

The taoiseach said "There should be unequivocal condemnation of Hamas, if we're trying to chart future for a Palestinian state, with guarantees for Israel into the future. Hamas is not that option.”

Connolly later said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland that she has "utterly condemned" Hamas "over and over".

"[Hamas] were elected by the people the last time there was an election. Overwhelming support for them back in 2006 or 2007. They are part of the civil society of Palestine. We're reliant on them for figures in relation to the deaths."

She said both Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes and that Israel has behaved like a "terrorist state", and the October 7 attacks were "absolutely unacceptable".

Meanwhile, in October 2021, years before the recent Gaza war, Connolly – then serving as deputy chairperson of the lower house of Ireland’s parliament – wrote in a parliamentary question that Israel was trying to “accomplish Jewish supremacy.”

But Ireland’s Jewish leaders have emphasised their hope that the new president will be a uniting force – especially following the controversial presidency of President Michael D Higgins, who served the maximum two terms, and previously expressed condolences for the death of Iran’s hardline president, Ebrahim Raisi, known as the "Butcher of Tehran".

Chief Rabbi of Ireland, Yoni Wieder, said he hoped the new president would “engage directly” with Ireland’s Jewish community.

“I send my congratulations to Catherine Connolly on her election as President. My hope is that President Connolly will use the office to unite rather than divide, and to promote dialogue, respect and understanding across Irish society.”

The rabbi of Dublin Hebrew Congregation went on: “There are certainly concerns within our community about the positions Connolly has taken regarding Hamas. She has described them as ‘part of the fabric of the Palestinian people,’ yet seems entirely untroubled by that reality. She appears not to object to their remaining in power, even as they openly beat and execute their own people. Such views do not reflect the outlook of someone committed to a secure and peaceful future.

“I would hope that President Connolly will take the opportunity in due course to engage directly with Ireland’s Jewish community, to hear our concerns and to better understand how the conflict continues to affect our small community here,” Wieder added. 

“It’s also telling how central Israel-Palestine has been to this election, despite polls showing that people are far more concerned with issues such as housing, immigration, and the cost of living.”

The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland also congratulated Connolly, wishing her “every success in her service to the nation.”

Maurice Cohen, chair of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, said: “The Presidency represents all the people of Ireland, it is a symbol of unity, conscience, and compassion. We trust that these enduring values will continue to guide the President’s leadership and inspire confidence at home and abroad.

“The Jewish community in Ireland looks forward to working constructively with the President, as we have with her predecessors, in fostering mutual respect, understanding, and the flourishing of all communities that make up the fabric of Irish life.”

Connolly, 68, secured 914,143 first preference votes on Friday (63 per cent).

She made her acceptance speech first in Irish and then in English.

"I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it's necessary," she said at Dublin Castle on Saturday.

"I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, and a voice that recognises the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country."

This article previously reported that Catherine Connolly said on BBC Radio Ulster that she was “reluctant to unequivocally condemn” October 7. This was inaccurate. Connolly has condemned the Hamas-led terror attack.