Taoiseach hits out at antisemitism claims over Israel and Occupied Territories Bill

Mr Martin - speaking in Cork - also warned that there was absolutely no suggestion that Ireland was proposing any form of boycott on Israel amid intensifying criticism of Ireland in the US.

He stressed that Ireland's position is that it wants the Israeli hostages returned safely by Hamas, Hamas to disband and a ceasefire to be declared in Gaza to allow for talks about a permanent end to the violence and for a peaceful settlement to be reached.

However, Ireland has taken a strong stance on illegal settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank.

Mr Martin's comments came after Mr Shatter, a former Fine Gael justice minister, slated the Government Bill in the Oireachtas - and a senior US ambassador criticised Ireland's position on the issue.

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slated the Occupied Territories Bill and warned Ireland to "sober up."

"Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness," he posted on Twitter.

The diplomat said the Bill was "so stupid" it smacked of "diplomatic intoxication."

The Taoiseach stressed that people needed to focus on the ongoing loss of life in Gaza and across the Middle East.

"The Irish people are appalled by what is happening in Gaza and indeed across the West Bank,” he said.

"People I meet cannot understand the continued slaughter of children.

"Only in the last 48 hours a church was attacked, a Catholic Church was attacked and innocent people were killed. The war needs to stop. Hostages need to be released and the political process and a massive surge in humanitarian aid needs to be facilitated.

"The International Court of Justice (position) in terms of the illegality of the occupied territories is clear. Ireland has also always worked through the prism of international humanitarian law. The objective is to try to put pressure on Israel to stop the war.

"We (Ireland) sanctioned Hamas. Rightly so. And we believe that Hamas should disband and should get off the stage to enable a Government to be formed or an administration to be formed in Gaza and security guarantees given to Israel in any future settlement.

"But the war is no longer in any shape or form justifiable and the continued killing of people and illegal occupation must be recognised.

"That said - and I have said this in terms of because people have raised the issue of services - and I have consistently said over the last two to three weeks that in terms of services that could create difficulties for multinationals based in Ireland from the US.

"Because the US has boycotted divestment legislation. And the perception over there is that they don’t draw the same differentiation as the international community does in terms of the illegaly occupied territories and Israel proper.

"The Occupied Territories Bill does not in any shape or form propose a boycott of trade between Israel and Ireland but rather between trade with the occupied territories.

"That is an issue and does need consideration. And I have made that point repeatedly that it does need to be factored into the issue of the inclusion of services.

"I think there are different perspectives around the world in respect of the Middle East. The US has been strong supporters of Israel. We acknowledge that.

"At the last EU Council meeting almost every country wanted the war to stop. Every country accepted the catastrophe that Gaza now is. There is a need to stop the war. Ireland has a clear position in terms of international humanitarian law.

"We came under huge pressure on Syria for example when we were on the (UN) Security Council to facilitate the humanitarian corridors on Syria. Likewise on Ethiopia. We have always stood up for what is right and proper within international humanitarian law.

"We are very concerned in terms of the breakdown of the rules based order. There is a need for all countries to reflect on what is happening. Because countries cannot be breaching international humanitarian law. And there is no question in Gaza that that law has been breached on countless occasions.”

Mr Martin said Ireland would adopt a principled stance but would not undermine the country's global position.

"We don’t want in any way to undermine Ireland. The purpose of the exercise is not that Ireland would suffer unduly in respect of this. It is interesting that across Europe now there is an issue about the compatibility of how the European Union approaches this and the decision of the ICJ in respect of the occupied territories in Palestine,” he said.

Mr Martin hit out at comments from Mr Shatter about the proposed new legislation.

"What I would reject very strongly is any suggestion that there is any hint of antisemitism in terms of the Irish position," he said.

"I think that was wrongly presented by former Minister (Alan) Shatter in his presentation to the Oireachtas committee.

"I was dismayed at the language he used. It was false language and it was a very false presentation.

"There are efforts abroad to undermine the integrity of Ireland’s position, to misrepresent Ireland’s position. We are conscious of that. We will always work to protect our economic interests and the national interest."

He also rejected suggestions Ireland could be economically targeted by the US over its diplomatic stance.

"That has not been mooted. I think there is a broader European-US negotiation going on in terms of tariffs,” he said.

"Those negotiations are tough and as you know we have until August 1 to resolve it. That is the context on which tariffs will be discussed and now an individual member state basis."