On Sunday, the Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matthew Barrett joined President Biden during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the White House. Varadkar called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: “The Irish people are deeply troubled about the catastrophe that’s unfolding before our eyes in Gaza. And when I travel the world, leaders often ask me why the Irish have such empathy for the Palestinian people. And the answer is simple: We see our history in their eyes, a story of displacement, of dispossession, a national identity questioned and denied, forced emigration, discrimination and now hunger. So we support your work, and that of your administration, to secure a humanitarian ceasefire and to create the space for lasting peace. The people of Gaza desperately need food, medicine and shelter, and most especially they need the bombs to stop. This has to stop on both sides, the hostages brought home and humanitarian relief allowed in.”