Protest calls for Palestinian students to get Irish visas

Around 200 people gathered outside the Department of Justice in Dublin city centre to protest against the government's denial of visas for Palestinian students seeking scholarships at third level institutions. Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik and Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson described the situation as "shocking" and indefensible, respectively.

At least 31 out of 59 students who applied after securing scholarships were denied entry. The Universities of Sanctuary initiative, which supports asylum seekers and refugees in third level education, conducted a study showing that the refusals were due to issues such as insufficient bank statements and lack of evidence that the students would return to Gaza after completing their studies.

The Department of Justice defended the decisions, stating that each visa application is reviewed on its own merit and that Palestinian nationals must have a valid visa to enter the country. The protest, organized by the Trinity College BDS movement and the NCAD students' union, called for an urgent review by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan and demanded that the students be granted entry before the start of the term.