The Israeli embassy has admitted that a tweet by one of its senior diplomats was "wrong," after she suggested that Ireland had given financial aid to the armed Palestinian group Hamas.

Adi Ophir Maoz, the deputy head of mission for the Israeli Embassy in Ireland, made the claim in a post to her Twitter/X account on Sunday.

“Ireland wondering who funded those tunnels of terror? A short investigation direction – 1. Find a mirror. 2. Direct it to yourself. 3. Voilà," read the tweet.

She also linked to a statement made by Israeli deputy spokesman on foreign affairs, Alex Gandler, in which he detailed the alleged tactics of Hamas.

“There is a city of defense and attack tunnels under the sands of Gaza. Instead of investing in a metro, water treatment plants, roads, schools, electricity grids and the wellbeing of all Gaza residents, what Hamas has done is dig tunnels of terror, filled with bunkers, ammo storage facilities, command and control centers and hostage\kidnapped cells. Hamas is ISIS.”

Maoz has since deleted the post, with the Irish embassy stating that it had been retracted “since it does not represent the official position of Israel or the embassy."

“The tweet was in reference to the ample evidence that Hamas, which controls Gaza, abuses international humanitarian aid that is sent to Gaza.

“However since the text and wording were wrong, it was deleted.”

The Israeli embassy has retracted a tweet that was posted by its deputy head of mission that accused Ireland of funding Hamas tunnels under Gaza. https://t.co/s19iUWCEyz

— Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) October 23, 2023

Previously, Ms Maoz said people in Ireland who have been on the streets protesting against Israel should “open their eyes” to the reality of the country’s conflict.

“You are celebrating death. You are applauding torture, rape and burning people alive. You chant for the complete destruction of a democratic sovereign state that lives exactly where their ancestors lived for thousands of years.”

In an interview with the Sunday Independent last week, Israeli ambassador to Ireland, Dana Erlich, accused President Michael D Higgins of making misinformed comments; that have had "inflammatory" repercussions in relation to the Israel-Hamas war.

President Michael D. Higgins during a visit to the FINIRISH BATT HQ in South Lebanon.

She criticized the President's statements in regard to whether Israel had breached international law in its aerial bombing and continued artillery bombardment of the Gaza strip.

Erlich also said that she thinks Ireland is not a neutral country in relation to the conflict.

Minister for Enterprise and foreign affairs, Simon Coveney, said that Erlich's comments were "not helpful."

Speaking to RTÉ radio, he said: “President Michael D Higgins is somebody who for many years has taken an interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“He, like many others in Ireland, is deeply concerned about what is currently unfolding in Gaza. I don’t think it’s helpful when an ambassador starts to make pointed comments in relation to our President.

“I think Michael D Higgins has reflected the view of many in Ireland.

“The Government’s position on this is that we unreservedly condemn the atrocity that Hamas is responsible for in terms of the killing of 1,400 innocent Israelis.

“But we are also deeply concerned about what continues to unfold in terms of human suffering in Gaza.

Simon Coveney. Credit: Kathrin Baumbach

President Higgins has previously criticized IDF assaults in Gaza; highlighting the unfolding humanitarian crisis and calling for a cessation of violence in both Gaza and Israel for "the protection of innocent civilians..."

“We want a ceasefire, and we want humanitarian aid corridors open, and Ireland will continue to advocate for that at a European level and at a UN level.”