1mo ago

Palestinian Students Accepted by Irish Universities Are Stranded in Gaza—and The Irish Government Won’t Help

www.dropsitenews.com

Éire / Ireland @lemmy.world

IndustryStandard @lemmy.world

1mo ago

Palestinian Students Accepted by Irish Universities Are Stranded in Gaza—and The Irish Government Won’t Help

www.dropsitenews.com /p/palestinian-students-irish-government-evacuation-gaza

8 comments

From a practical standpoint, how is Ireland meant to help? They’re already openly critical of Israel. But they lack the influence to compel Israel to allow Palestinians through the crossings and to a functional airport. It’s unclear to me what levers they have to pull.
- I'm confused by it too. Like if my kid gets accepted into Harvard but doesnt leave their bedroom how is the blame on Harvard or me or my Govt? The kids constantly bombarded by social media and addicting microtransaction games, blame them...
so the irish gov't is all bark and no bite on the gazan genocide like the british government or the biden/harris administration.
- They are not exactly a global superpower. What do you want them to do? They bark a lot, which is more than other countries.
  
  Did you read the article? The Irish govt is giving bs excuses for not evacuating these students where other countries have no issue.
  A source close to a number of the young Palestinians who want to study in Ireland told The Ditch, “The students are losing hope as they watch evacuation after evacuation depart without them to countries that have publicly been far less supportive of Palestine than Ireland.”
Palestinian scholarship students with places at Irish universities and processed visas remain trapped in Gaza as the Irish government refuses to evacuate Palestinians who aren’t on “official government scholarships”.
At least 20—but possibly up to 40—Palestinian students have been accepted to Irish universities with full tuition and accommodation waivers. The Irish embassy in Tel Aviv has confirmed their visa applications meet all requirements for approval.
They are however still in Gaza. The Department of Foreign Affairs has said, "Those students who have not been awarded a government scholarship do not meet the current criteria for assistance," in a response health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill forwarded to student advocates.
What are the scholarships these students have that are not "official government scholarships"? The article doesn't explain. Are these scholarships from private organizations or individuals?
Just a guess but maybe if they aren't government backed scholarships, Ireland has no way of verifying them. What happens if Ireland helps the students get to Ireland and it turns out there isn't any real money? Now Ireland has to deport the students, which they won't be able to, so they will then have to cover the full amount of the bogus scholarships to pay for the students who otherwise can't afford to be there.
Does Ireland even have a military? I thought they just relied on the British Navy at this point.

8 comments