DUBLIN, Ireland: Taoiseach Micheál Martin has firmly rebuffed remarks made by U.S. diplomat Mike Huckabee, who criticized Ireland's proposed ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness and propose something so stupid it could only be blamed on diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up, Ireland! Call the Israeli Foreign Ministry and apologize!" Huckabee, currently serving as the U.S. ambassador to Israel, posted on X.

In response, Martin dismissed the comments as inappropriate and offensive. "I reject the remarks made by the ambassador outright," he said.

"This is a deeply serious situation in Gaza, with an appalling loss of life and grave breaches of international humanitarian law."

Martin emphasized that Ireland's position is rooted in international law and humanitarian principles. "We have consistently condemned Hamas," he said, "but we also strongly condemn Israeli actions in Gaza that amount to war crimes. The killing of children and civilians—many simply waiting for food—must stop. What is happening defies any moral standard."

The Irish government's Occupied Territories Bill, which seeks to prohibit trade in goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements, has drawn criticism from Israeli officials. But Martin stood firm, pointing to the broader context of escalating violence in both Gaza and the West Bank.

"Israel should focus on ending this war that is destroying countless innocent lives," he said. "The international community cannot ignore the unchecked actions of extremist settlers displacing Palestinians who've lived on that land for generations."

Calling for an end to the bloodshed, Martin concluded: "This is not just a political issue—it is a moral and ethical one. People are dying in queues for food. Homes are being bombed. The time for this war to end is long overdue."