It hasn't been a good week for Irish PM Leo Varadkar. As RedState reported, he stoked controversy recently by declaring that his nation's government was "too white." That left people scratching their heads given Ireland is 93 percent white. A country's government reflecting its demographics is not exactly unusual. Besides, it's objectively racist to say something is "too" any race.

That silly statement represents a pattern for Varadkar, though. Following a deadly stabbing attack on Thursday in which an Algerian immigrant stabbed three children and others, the prime minister made a statement claiming that it was actually the "far-right" and its "hate" the Irish residents fear. In the face of children being stabbed, Varadkar was focused on lazy, stereotypical potshots against his political enemies. 

Now, his response to Hamas' recent release of some of the hostages taken on October 7th has people talking, and not in a good way. While speaking of Emily Hand, an Irish-Israeli who was released by the terrorist government of Gaza on Saturday, Varadkar described her as being "lost" with no mention of her plight. 

This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Our prayers have been answered.

— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) November 25, 2023

To say that ruffled some feathers would be an understatement. He was absolutely slammed on social media. 

Warning: coarse language content

As a Jew of Irish descent, I am so horrified and disgusted. Lost and found like she went for a fucking hike in the woods. https://t.co/eNbgCCzHpk

— Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) November 25, 2023

Emily Hand was not "lost" Prime Minister Varadkar.

She was captured by Hamas murderers and held for 50 days without any family. It is shameful of you to dismiss the horrific crimes committed to this child. https://t.co/6VPEQU1gWZ

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 25, 2023

There are two ways to look at this, in my opinion. The more forgiving way is to assume that Varadkar was drawing on a Biblical analogy and got a little too loose with his descriptions. Still, the parable of the lost sheep is about a sheep that wanders off, not a sheep that gets taken hostage by a genocidal terrorist organization. Perhaps he didn't think that far before making his post? 

The less forgiving, and for my money, more likely, explanation is that Varadkar is once again doing everything he can to not offend the pro-Hamas factions within his own country. Perhaps he fears a backlash, or worse, he just agrees with them, but it seems rather purposeful to not mention that Emily Hand was held captive by barbarians for well over a month. She was not lost, and she was not found. She was released as part of an imperfect but probably necessary ceasefire. 

It's also worth noting that Varadkar did essentially nothing to help secure her release. He didn't pressure Hamas and demand its unconditional surrender. Instead, he pushed the ridiculous "collective punishment" talking point after Israel responded with military force. This would be a good time for him to sit down and stop talking. Will he do that? I have my doubts.