500 signatures reached
To: Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Simon Harris (Minister of Foreign Affairs), Jim O'Callaghan (Minister of Justice), Helen McEntee (Minister of Education)
EVACUATE IRISH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FROM GAZA!
Immediately facilitate the evacuation of Gazan students holding acceptances to Irish Universities and who meet all the requirements for Irish student visas.
Why is this important?
20+ Irish university students in Gaza have been excluded from a recent evacuation of Irish students out of Gaza. We demand that the Irish government immediately facilitate another evacuation for these students.
All of them have worked incredibly hard during the ongoing genocide to earn places at these universities; despite being under constant bombardment they have walked long distances to connect to the internet, they have written personal statements while starving, and they have filled out government forms while mourning the violent deaths of family members.
Their tenacity in the face of indescribable devastation is a testament to their steadfastness and work ethic, qualities that have been noted and honoured by the corresponding universities and communities. We are anxiously waiting to welcome them to Ireland and have organized internationally to provide funding and accommodation in order to facilitate their arrival as soon as possible.
The students have met every single requirement for their student visas. In April, at least one student was told by the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv that their student visa had been processed and would be approved as it met every requirement, but that it would not be issued until an evacuation had been planned. The Irish embassy has the names and applications of every single Irish university student in Gaza who has applied for a student visa and yet the vast majority of them were seemingly intentionally left behind in this evacuation.
It is within the authority and capacity of the Irish Government to facilitate the immediate evacuation of these students and/or coordinate with other European countries that have repeatedly done so for their students, such as France.
The failure to do so fits into a concerning pattern of the Irish government delaying and/or denying visas and evacuations for Palestinians who have gone through the appropriate channels.
The failure to do so fits into a concerning pattern of the Irish government delaying and/or denying visas and evacuations for Palestinians who have gone through the appropriate channels.
Each day that passes brings with it unimaginable loss for these students, the people that love them, and the communities that would benefit from their hard work and talents.
Learn more at: bit.ly/pal2eire