President criticises Netanyahu following Pope’s funeral

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

President Michael D Higgins has criticised Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu while commenting on the gathering of world leaders at the funeral of Pope Francis.

Michael D Higgins said the absence of certain international leaders at the mass was “very significant”, in an apparent reference to Mr Netanyahu.

Speaking to reporters after attending the funeral of the late pontiff, Mr Higgins questioned how some world leaders could “remain silent” about people starving in Gaza.

The President was making wider remarks on the vocation of diplomacy in the context of Francis’ life.

Mr Higgins said: “It’s very significant not only who is at the event today – but who is missing.”

Mr Netanyahu did not attend the funeral, with Israel being represented by its ambassador to the Holy See.

Mr Higgins made reference to “those who have made outrageous statements” by labelling people who oppose Mr Netanyahu’s policies as “antisemitic”, adding that opposition to the prime minister’s actions was a position held by many people in Israel.

He said this “was an outrage that too many in the world put up with” and added: “I think that it should have been taken on from the very, very beginning.”

Mr Higgins accused Mr Netanyahu of “directing an army in breach of international humanitarian law” and civilian rights.

He said it was also “absolutely untrue” and a “great lie” to suggest that those who oppose Israel’s military actions in Gaza are automatically supporting the Hamas militant group.

Mr Higgins said: “Today, we’ve had a wonderful gathering here in Rome of representatives of Government and State.

“How could any of them remain silent then, if you are in fact, actually starving people to death by blocking food, blocking medicines, blocking the basic water itself, the basic necessities of life?”

He added: “Have we become numb? I think when you think of Francis’ own concept of ‘indifference’ that’s what he meant.”