The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 65,344 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

Speaking on Monday, to BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme, Connolly said that Starmer should not have “any say about Hamas” and that it should be “up to the Palestinian people”.

“I come from Ireland which has a history of colonisation. I would be very wary of telling a sovereign people how to run their country.

“The Palestinians must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country.”

Connolly said she had no hesitation in saying what had happened on 7 October 2023 was “absolutely wrong”, but that Hamas’ actions that day did not equate to genocide, and that “history did not start on 7 October”.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said 7 October was “a heinous atrocity of young music followers going to a concert, and they were mowed down”.

“Women were raped, and there was terrible sexual violence,” he said.

Martin added: “Catherine Connolly has said it was wrong, but then moved quickly to qualify it by saying oh, everything didn’t start on 7 October.

“As if that somehow justified what Hamas did.”

The taoiseach said Hamas has “broken every humanitarian law, and cannot be part of Gaza’s future”.

“There should be unequivocal condemnation of Hamas, if we’re trying to chart future for a Palestinian state, with guarantees for Israel into the future. Hamas is not that option.

“Because Hamas has consistently refused to recognize an Israeli state, and are vowed and committed to the elimination of an Israeli state.”

The Social Democrats, who are one of the parties supporting Connolly’s campaign, said in a statement that the party has consistently condemned Hamas’ 7 October attack on Israel.

“We would not have used the same language as Catherine, but the reality is that it is up to the Palestinian people to decide who their political representatives should be, following free and fair elections.”

The party’s statement added: “However, this is not possible while Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza, in which tens of thousands of Palestinians have already been killed.”

Fianna Fáil presidential candidate Jim Gavin said that he was “surprised” by Catherine Connolly’s comments.

Gavin also criticised his opponent for not acknowledging the “atrocities and horrific crimes that Hamas committed over two years ago”.

“I think that Hamas haven’t been good to the Palestinian people. Ultimately it will be up to the Palestinian people in that two-state solution to vote and to recommend who represents them.”

BBC News NI has contacted Sinn Féin, who endorsed Connolly on Saturday, for comment.