From the 28th of August to the 1st of September, 52 Palestinian students from Gaza successfully landed in Ireland to begin their studies upon successful visa and evacuation approval. Among them, 5 are set to start at Trinity, according to Trinity BDS. The four groups related to this effort are student activist organisations (including Trinity BDS, the UCD Students’ Union, among others), Irish Universities (including Trinity), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Ireland and Palestine, and the Department of Justice (DOJ). In their official statement on Instagram, Trinity BDS called the entry a “Victory to the Students!”
Many of these students enter through the University of Sanctuary Scholarships, which Irish universities fund. Others enter through other scholarships or through direct applications. According to Harry Johnston, chair of Trinity BDS, the “framing of [the victory] has been distorted, because the role universities played was very minimal. They gave offers […] but direct advocacy and contact was done purely by the SOS [Save our Scholars] campaign.”
In a statement to the University Times regarding support for students from Palestine, specifically related to policy discussions, support measures, or funding decisions from Trinity, a spokesperson for the university said “Trinity, with other universities, has worked with relevant government departments to help make these perilous journeys happen, to ensure significant supports on the students’ immediate arrival, and to support their integration into their universities and wider communities. Trinity has taken a leading role in coordinating the sectoral response.”
In response to a Freedom of Information Act request from the University Times regarding the number of applications, acceptances, and registrations from students from Palestine, Trinity disclosed that, in 2023/24, they received 24 applications from students from Palestine and 42 in 2024/25. Among those, in 2023/24, fewer than 10 were accepted, and fewer than 10 were successfully registered. In 2024/25, 14 students were accepted, and fewer than 10 were successfully registered. Trinity did not disclose cases where the number is “fewer than 10” for privacy reasons.
Tánaiste Simon Harris stated, “I welcome the arrival of these Palestinian young people to Ireland, and wish them every success with their studies here. I want to thank our diplomatic and consular staff in the region and at headquarters for their huge efforts to bring about this outcome.” Adding, “There is no justification for this man-made humanitarian crisis.”
In an official statement, the DFA stated that it “worked closely with the relevant authorities” and with Embassies in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Turkey. DFA mentioned being responsible for the evacuation of over 200 Palestinians to Ireland, and added, “As exit from Gaza is dependent on receipt of permission from the relevant local authorities, both in Israel and neighbouring jurisdictions, such assistance often rests outside the control of the Government of Ireland.”
Johnston also mentioned the staff in Palestine, but noted, “it’s very disingenuous to say DFA helped specifically, it was more so Palestinian individuals in their office in Ramallah, not Simon Harris knocking heads”. Continuing, “as one of the leaders, I didn’t see any central help”. He stated that Harris “essentially claimed credit for the evacuation”, which he said, “is not a fair representation […] it was individual students working together, individuals within universities, and individuals in the office in Ramallah”. He continued, mentioning that “visas are issued by the DOJ, and really, there are few ties between the DFA and the actual evacuation”.
“In terms of a push to get [Palestinian students] out, serious advocacy, I didn’t see that”.
In a comment, Johnston said, “I think that it’s most important to recognise that this was a coalition of normal, regular individuals, and if you see yourself as someone who wants to make a change, come talk to me and tell me what you think.”
