Israel summoned the Irish ambassador in Tel Aviv today to express its disgust at the European Union's sharp criticism of an Israeli attack on protesters in a Gaza refugee camp.
The Minster for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said yesterday's attack showed "a reckless regard for human life". Ten Palestinians were killed, some of them children.
"The targeting of innocent children in a conflict of this kind must always be condemned," he said. "The killing of children does not serve any legitimate cause and degrades any purpose which it purports to advance."
Troops said they did not aim to hit the rally.
"Israel rejects with disgust the statement by the Irish presidency of the European Union," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement, quoting what Mr Ran Kuriel, head of the ministry's European department told Irish Ambassador Patrick Hennessey.
"We reject any hint of blame that Israeli soldiers purposely harmed children," said Kuriel. "We would expect the EU presidency, which supposedly represents all European states, to be more careful before making provocative and false statements."
The rebuke comes despite an international outcry and rare US criticism over the Rafah operation.
Meanwhile, an Israeli helicopter fired a missile into a refugee camp this evening, on the third day of heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip. There was no immediate report of injury or damage.