Demonstrators call for Ireland to take steps and secure entry for Palestinian scholars
In a united front, students from various Dublin colleges have organised protests, urging the Irish government to facilitate the evacuation of Palestinian students stranded in Gaza. These students have secured scholarships to study at Irish universities but are still waiting to leave Gaza due to visa and safe passage issues.
The student body, including representatives from University College Dublin (UCD), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University (DCU), and the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), have called on the government to expedite visa processes, remove bureaucratic obstacles, and provide resources to help these students reach Ireland. The students' testimonies highlight their offers for courses in fields such as biomedical engineering and architecture, but ongoing entrapment continues to pose a significant challenge.
One student, accepted into a master's course at UCD, is still awaiting evacuation. This student dreams of studying biomedical engineering to help improve healthcare in Gaza, a dream that seems increasingly uncertain due to the current circumstances.
The protests also targeted Egypt's role in blocking or delaying the crossing through its border with Gaza. Activists accused the Egyptian government of complicity in the blockade by refusing to fully open crossings or enforce humanitarian aid entry. Demonstrators fear that Egypt’s policies align with U.S. foreign policy that favors Israeli military actions.
The protests culminated outside the Department of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, with students demanding immediate evacuation of the students from Gaza to take up places in Irish universities. Senator Alice-Mary Higgins spoke at the protest, expressing concern for the Gazan students and criticizing the Department of Foreign Affairs for limited resources and a rollback on decency.
The Representative Office of Ireland, in Ramallah, provides 30 scholarships to Palestinian students to pursue one-year master's degrees in Ireland through a programme with Irish Aid. However, few safe passages exist out of Gaza, putting these scholarship recipients in grave danger. Some Palestinian students receive support from individual Irish universities in the form of "sanctuary scholarships," which often include waived fees and a monthly stipend.
In response, the Department of Foreign Affairs stated they are aware of the 40 Palestinian students and are providing consular assistance. However, the coalition of students' unions accused the Government of failing to evacuate students immediately. Hazen Griffin, from UCD's students' union, accused the Government of "playing games" with the lives of affected students.
Nine Palestinians arrived in Ireland in July to begin their studies this September. Yet, more than 40 other Palestinian students remain trapped in Gaza with no clear path to Ireland. The students' plight has sparked a wave of solidarity and activism among Dublin's college students, who are determined to see these scholars safely reach their academic destinations.
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