Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar ordered the closure of Israel's embassy in Ireland on Sunday, over the European nation's recognition of a Palestinian state and criticism of the Middle Eastern country.

Amid mounting international criticism of its military conduct in Gaza, Israel says it will deepen ties with countries it considers friendly toward it.

Israel announced that it would close its embassy in Ireland on Sunday after the European country recognized Palestine as a sovereign nation and other acts that Israel said promoted “antisemitic rhetoric.