SINN FÉIN HAS called on Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin to withdraw what the party called “disgraceful” comments he made about the war in Gaza.

It comes after Gavin said he believed that the Israeli army’s “military objectives have probably been reached” in its nearly three-year-long assault of Gaza, and that it was “unconscionable” that the bombing was continuing.

Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty, who has been mooted as a potential candidate himself for Sinn Féin in the race for the Áras, took issue with Gavin classing the onslaught as part of its “military objectives” in a post on X.

“This is a disgraceful way to talk about the brutal slaughter of tens of thousands of men, women and children,” Doherty said.

“It’s a genocide, Jim,” Doherty said in his post, adding that the former Dublin football manager should withdraw the remarks immediately.

This is shocking! Fianna Fail’s Presidential candidate Jim Gavin says on Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, “It’s unconscionable that the bombing is still taking place when I believe that the military objectives have probably been reached for that military campaign.”

This is a…

— Pearse Doherty (@PearseDoherty) September 10, 2025

Responding to the comments, Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said they were an “appalling distortion” of what Gavin said.

“Jim Gavin is very clear in that interview, absolutely saying it was unconscionable,” Martin told reporters today.

He accused Sinn Fein of being “nasty” and “always trying to create division” on the genocide in Gaza, by “trying to be more virtuous” than others.

Martin cited Gavin’s previous role as an army peacekeeper, including his involvement in “one of the largest humanitarian exercises undertaken” with the UN in Chad.

“It’s just not good enough that Sinn Féin is trying to start and undermine a person whose entire life has been towards peacekeeping,” Martin added.

What did Jim Gavin say?

In an interview with Virgin Media, Gavin said he believed that Ireland has been “very strong” on Gaza, calling for aid to be allowed into the territory and for hostages to be released.

“It’s unconscionable what’s happening at the moment, it’s unconscionable that we have a man-made famine in 2025,” Gavin said.

“It’s unconscionable that the bombing is still taking place when I would believe that the military objectives have probably been reached for that military campaign.

“The bombing needs to stop, we need to get the food and the aid into the women and children of Gaza immediately and the hostages need to be handed over.”

For the first time, Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate Jim Gavin has outlined his stance on key political issues including Gaza, and a united Ireland. His narrow selection also raises questions about party unity.

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— TonightVMTV (@TonightVMTV) September 10, 2025

With reporting by Christina Finn