Ireland considers purchasing Israeli drones despite harsh criticism over Gaza War

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Despite political tensions between Ireland and Israel since the start of the war last year, Ireland is reportedly considering acquiring Israeli drones for military use. This comes as the Irish government has been a vocal critic of Israel and its war against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.

The Irish military’s Corps of Engineers opened a tender to purchase 14 unmanned aerial vehicles for “surveillance, survey, inspection and search and rescue,” the Irish Times reported on Wednesday. The vehicles are estimated to be worth around $667,000.

Unnamed Irish military sources told The Irish Times that Israeli defense companies are “well-positioned to secure the contract” due to Israel’s position as a “world leader in drone technology.”

Some Western nations have embraced a silent military boycott of Israel since the IDF began its ground incursion into Gaza to fight Hamas terrorists. However, the Irish Defense Ministry announced there “were no restrictions on bidding for the new contract” from Israeli defense firms and “there has been no change of policy regarding defense forces use of Israeli-made military equipment.”

“Such tender competitions are open to any company or country subject to the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargoes or restrictions. There are no such restrictions or embargoes in place on Israel or Israeli companies,” the Irish defense ministry stated.

Ireland is often viewed as one of the European countries most critical of Israel and has often downplayed the security threats Israel faces in the Middle East. Historically, there has been cooperation between the Irish IRA movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), with members of both groups participating in joint training. It was not until 1993, the same year that Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords, that Ireland permitted Israel to establish an embassy in Dublin.

In April, Ireland’s newly-elected prime minister, Simon Harris, raised the issue of recognizing the Palestinian Authority as a state. He also claimed that Israel was taking “revenge” in Gaza in its war against terrorists.

In May, Ireland joined Norway and Spain in unilaterally recognizing the “Palestine state.”

“I am confident other countries will join us in the coming weeks,” said Harris, describing the announcement as “a historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine.”

Hamas praised the recognition by Ireland, Spain and Norway as “an important step" in establishing an independent Palestinian state.

In March, Ireland joined the South African government in advancing a legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and stating the IDF was committing “genocide” in Gaza.

Furthermore, in late November, after 9-year-old Irish-Israeli Emily Hand was released from Hamas captivity, former Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar referred to her as a girl who was "lost and now been found," without mentioning the harsh nature of her abduction by Hamas terrorists.