As part of our support for students from Palestine seeking to continue their education in Ireland, Academia for Palestine is asking supporters to email Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee and their local TDs to ask them to urgently allow students to be added to evacuation lists before the deadline on October 15th.
We have prepared two letters below – one for Minister McEntee and one for any TD or senator – you can find contact details for your local representatives here and for Minister McEntee here.

You can add your name to the petition here.

Letter to Minister McEntee

Dear Minister McEntee,

We are writing in relation to the Palestinians students in Gaza who were offered scholarships or places in Irish universities but whose visa applications were refused — the majority of which we understand are under appeal with a substantial minority also the subject of judicial review applications. We appreciate the efforts of the Department of Foreign affairs for these students. Last year’s arrangements by the Department of Foreign Affairs to evacuate students from Gaza who had received university and private donor support to continue their education were a source of widespread pride throughout Ireland. As lecturers, researchers and students we have been privileged to teach, learn from, study with, and get to know these students: they have contributed immensely to our universities and communities while performing very strongly in their studies. 

You are aware of the urgency of the situation for this year’s cohort, and the devastating, heartbreaking impact that the arbitrary refusal of visas en masse has had. We are urgently asking the Department of Foreign Affairs to add all affected students now to the evacuation list by the 15th of October so as to preserve their position and the possibility of their evacuation on the 26th October in time for them to take up their places and scholarships, which our universities have kept open for them until early November. This is a feasible step that the Department can take and one which at this point is essential, as it seems likely that some of the appeals and judicial reviews may take until after 15 October to conclude — and whereas it would be possible to remove names from the list after the 15th, it would not be possible to add them at that stage.

We are very grateful for your efforts to ensure that this happens,

Yours sincerely,

Letter to TDs and Senators

Dear Deputy ___, 

I am writing in relation to the Palestinians students in Gaza who were offered scholarships or places in Irish universities but whose visa applications were refused — the majority of which we understand are under appeal with a substantial minority also the subject of judicial review applications. Last year’s arrangements by the Department of Foreign Affairs to evacuate students from Gaza who had received university and private donor support to continue their education were a source of widespread pride throughout Ireland. The academic, student and wider communities have been privileged to get to know these students: they have contributed immensely to our universities and communities while performing very strongly in their studies. 

You are aware of the urgency of the situation for this year’s cohort, and the devastating, heartbreaking impact that the arbitrary refusal of visas en masse has had. Could you please urgently contact the Department of Foreign Affairs to request that they add all affected students now to the evacuation list by the 15th of October so as to preserve their position and the possibility of their evacuation on the 26th October in time for them to take up their places and scholarships, which the universities have kept open for them until early November. This is a feasible step that the Department can take and one which at this point is essential, as it seems likely that some of the appeals and judicial reviews may take until after 15 October to conclude — and whereas it would be possible to remove names from the list after the 15th, it would not be possible to add them at that stage.

I am very grateful for your efforts to ensure that this happens,

Yours sincerely,