Ireland Announces Educational Scholarships for Palestinian Students Affected by Gaza War

Ireland has announced that it will offer full educational scholarships to Palestine students who have been negatively affected by Israel’s continuous conflict in Gaza and the West Bank. In the occupied Palestinian territories, the Irish Department for Foreign Affairs on 2 September announced scholarships for students who cannot attend school as part of the Ireland Palestine Scholarship Programme. This is under the Ireland Fellowship global scholarship program after Ireland granted Palestine the status of a sovereign state in May 2024. 

 The escalation of the war in October 2023 has dealt a big blow to the education of the people of Gaza. University of Gaza, Gaza International University has been entirely demolished, and hundreds of primary and secondary schools have been heavily damaged. It was estimated through the World Bank that by January 2024, the conflict had cost $341 million in damage to education facilities. United Nations has stated that restoration of the cities and schools in the Gaza Strip may require years and billions of US dollars once peace is achieved. 

 Human suffering has forced 1,800,000 internally displaced persons within the Gazan territories and a death toll of over forty thousand. Also, 80, 000 Palestinians have been forced to seek refuge in Egypt while many others continue to be caught in this warfare. 

 The academic year 2025-2026 scholarships will give five Palestinian students a fully funded opportunity to pursue one-year Master’s programs in Ireland. The IPSP includes all academic charges, visa expenses, medical and travel insurance, economy return flights, Irish residence permit charge, and €700 per month personal allowance. Students will also be privileged to be offered a settling-in grant, completion allowance, and a departure stipend awaiting them at the institution. 

 The application details are already out, and students can register for information sessions online until September 23rd. Two different meetings will be conducted through Zoom for the students in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. 

 This is because Ireland was one of the first countries to support the rights of the Palestinian people, which comes from its historical struggle. The country has always been supporting the Palestinian state and has been voicing its concerns about the actions of the Israelis in the EU. Ireland was the first EU that called for the establishment of a Palestinian state in 1980 and has been, in a way, a strong opponent of Israel and its policies against the Palestinians. 

 Even though Ireland officially recognized Israel in 1993, it was the last country in the European Union to do that caused of solidarity with Palestinians. An internationally celebrated day was May 28, when Ireland formally ratified Palestine as an independent nation. The Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris referred to the move as ‘important and historic. ’ He stressed Ireland’s determination to remain hopeful for the two-state solution as the only foreseeable solution to achieving balanced and lasting peace for Israel and Palestine. 

 Ireland’s government has also said it will recognize Palestine formally by providing an ambassador and embassy in Ramallah. This scholarship program is another contribution of the Irish government towards advocating Palestinian rights. This scholarship will go a long way in ensuring that the affected young Palestinians are given a chance at education. 

 Thus, despite the war, Ireland proves its concern for international solidarity and provides a laborless chance to the young Palestinians for whom the war stops the future.