The Daily Star Ireland
Fifty-two Palestinian students from Gaza are on their way to Ireland to begin their studies at Irish universities, following a delicate and carefully coordinated international effort. Their arrival marks the culmination of weeks of tense negotiations and logistical challenges, as permissions to exit Gaza, transit through Israel, and enter Jordan had to be secured before they could finally travel onward.
A Journey Marked by Uncertainty
The students, who come from across Gaza, received confirmation of their departure in text messages on Tuesday. Until then, there had been no certainty they would be able to leave despite already having been accepted into Irish universities. Their route took them from Gaza into Jordan via Israel, with onward travel through Istanbul before boarding three separate commercial flights bound for Dublin.
The first of these flights, carrying 27 students, was expected to land in Ireland on Wednesday afternoon. Upon arrival, the group would undergo medical checks and screenings before being met by university representatives and taken to pre-arranged accommodation.
The operation was overseen by Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Further and Higher Education in collaboration with several universities. Preparations had been ongoing throughout the summer to ensure that if approval was granted, the students could travel at short notice.
One government message sent on Monday warned the students:
“Ireland is still working to secure the necessary approvals for you to depart Gaza. While there might be a possibility of departure on Wednesday 27 August, this is not yet confirmed.”
It included strict safety instructions for those traveling south to the meeting point in Deir Al Balah, advising against the use of vehicles due to the risk of Israeli strikes on moving cars. Students were told they could bring only minimal belongings—personal documents, medication, a phone, and a charger. Gold, laptops, and other electronics were banned and subject to confiscation.
By Tuesday morning, a final message confirmed they had been cleared to leave.
Stories of Struggle Behind the Journey
Among the students is 20-something journalist Asem Al Jerjawi, who will study journalism in Ireland. In Gaza, he documented the destruction and civilian suffering during months of Israeli bombardment. Speaking to RTÉ News via video calls, he described the toll on his own family and community.
Asem, visibly frail after losing 20 kilograms, showed the remnants of his damaged apartment, patched with cloth and powered by a car battery. His family has been cooking on a makeshift stove fashioned from a tin container while searching for shelter outside of tented camps to accommodate his elderly grandmother.
What haunts him most, he said, is the image of a starving 14-year-old boy wandering shirtless through the streets, telling strangers simply: “I am hungry.”
“Life is now hunger,” Asem explained. “Starvation is not just a word. It is pain. Many nights I could not sleep, not only because of the bombs and explosions, but because I am hungry. I am thinking, ‘I want to eat.’”
A Collective Effort in Ireland
Irish universities have played a crucial role in this evacuation, with institutions such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Galway, South East Technological University, and several others stepping in to coordinate support.
A spokesperson for Trinity College said the sector had worked in “an incredibly collaborative effort” with government departments to ensure the students could leave Gaza safely.
Tánaiste Simon Harris, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, confirmed the news, noting that Ireland has now facilitated the departure of more than 200 people from Gaza since the conflict escalated.
“Such travel is obviously dependent on receiving permission from various authorities in the region,” Harris said. “But I am pleased we are able to make a difference for these students on this occasion and I wish them well with their studies in Ireland.”
Relief, Hope, and Lingering Sadness
For students like Asem, the relief of reaching safety is tempered by the grief of leaving family and neighbors behind.
“I feel relief and hope that I might be safe,” he said before boarding, “but also sadness and fear for my family and my community who must stay behind.”
As these young Palestinians begin their studies in Ireland, their departure represents not only an escape from a devastating conflict but also the start of a new chapter—one defined by opportunity, yet shadowed by the suffering of those still in Gaza.
