April 26, 2025: President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins speaking to the media at the Irish College of Rome after attending the funeral for Pope Francis.President of Ireland

President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins has been described as an "antisemitic leprechaun" after saying that it is an "outrage" that critics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his policies have been deemed "antisemitic."

President Higgins was speaking to the media at the Irish College in Rome after attending the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, April 26.

According to The Journal, the President was asked by a reporter about his thoughts on Pope Francis’ support for the people of Gaza and the criticism he faced in turn.

"Of course, it's very significant not only who is at the event today, but who is missing," Higgins replied, apparently referring to Netanyahu.

Neither Netanyahu nor the President of Israel attended the Pontiff's funeral; the country's only official representation was its ambassador to the Holy See.

Higgins went on to say that critics of Netanyahu and his policies being described as "antisemitic" is an "outrage that too many in the world put up with."

The President claimed that many people in Israel oppose the policies of Netanyahu.

He added that it was very welcome that “there are so many people in the United States, we must never forget, who are as shocked as we are about the  killings."

He said the accusations of antisemitism in response to criticism of "a Prime Minister who is directing an army that is in breach of international humanitarian law - many aspects of international law" should have been "taken on from the very, very beginning." 

According to the PA, Higgins further said that it is “absolutely untrue” and a “great lie” to suggest that those who oppose Israel’s military actions in Gaza are automatically supporting Hamas.

Higgins went on to say: “Today we have had a wonderful gathering here in Rome of representatives of government and state.

“How could any of them remain silent then in view of actually starving people to death by blocking food, blocking medicines, blocking water itself, the basic necessities of life.

“Have we become numb?

"I think when you think of Francis’ own concept of ‘indifference’ that’s what he meant.”

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"Antisemitic leprechaun"

Criticizing Higgins, international human rights lawyer and self-described "proud Zionist" Arsen Ostrovsky said to his more than 330k followers on X: "Michael Higgins, the little antisemitic leprechaun and President of Ireland (@PresidentIRL) chose the occasion of Pope Francis funeral, to launch into a tirade against Israel and PM Netanyahu."

It's not the first time Ostrovsky has used stereotypes in his criticism of Ireland, having several times accused Ireland and its people of being 'drunk on Guinness.'

He has also previously claimed that it is "Hard to think of another country whose opinion means as little as Ireland’s," despite having posts on X criticizing Ireland dating back to 2011.

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"Endless suffering under a total and complete blockade" in Gaza

Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said in its latest status report on Thursday: "Humanitarian aid and supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip for over 50 days now (since 2 March 2025), when the Israeli authorities imposed a siege.

"As a result, critical humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel medical aid and vaccines for children, are rapidly depleting; UNRWA flour supplies have run out and only 250 food parcels remain.

"On 22 April, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that, while hunger is spreading and deepening in the Gaza Strip, nearly 3,000 UNRWA trucks of lifesaving aid are ready to enter."

On Saturday, the same day as both Higgins' and Ostrovsky's comments, Jonathan Whittall, OCHA Head of Office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said that in Gaza, there is "endless suffering under a total and complete blockade, a total closure that has lasted now for almost two months while air strikes and ground operations intensify and displacement orders increase."

He added: "As humanitarians, we can see that aid is being weaponized through its denial. There is no justification for this, and it has to stop.

"Lives depend on the blockade ending, aid flowing and a ceasefire being reinstated.

"I hope that we see real accountability – real accountability – before we see history judge those who watched what is happening in Gaza and did nothing."

In its latest impact report, OCHA, citing Gaza's Ministry of Health, said there have been 51,266 fatalities in Gaza as of April 22.

As of March 22, 50,021 of those fatalities had been identified as 22,265 men, 15,613 children, 8,304 women, and 3,839 elderly.