Simon Harris welcomes students from Gaza to study in Ireland

The students from Gaza will begin third-level education in Ireland

Harris confirmed that 26 students from Gaza arrived in Ireland on Thursday, August 28th.

The remaining students, who have all been offered scholarships by Irish education institutions, will arrive between Friday and Sunday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including its Embassies in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Türkiye, have worked closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that the group could make this journey.

Tánaiste Simon Harris welcomed the young Palestinian people to Ireland.

"I wish them every success with their studies here. I want to thank our diplomatic and consular staff in the region and at headquarters for their huge efforts to bring about this outcome.

Harris said Ireland is "gravely concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza."

"We remain gravely concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, including the recent decision of the Israeli authorities to escalate their military offensive. This will only exacerbate the current suffering and ever-rising number of civilian casualties.

"Famine has been declared in parts of the Gaza Strip and is projected to spread further in the coming weeks."

Harris added that there is "no justification for this man-made humanitarian crisis."

"Ireland has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire agreement and permanent end to hostilities, the immediate release of all hostages, and for the rapid, unimpeded and large-scale entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs has supported more than 200 people to leave Gaza and travel to Ireland.

Exit from Gaza is dependent on permission from the relevant local authorities. This includes both Israel and neighbouring jurisdictions.

The Department of Foreign Affairs stated, "Such assistance often rests outside the control of the Government of Ireland."