Ireland takes action to prohibit imports from Israel, while a university cuts ties with the country
Trinity College Dublin's board announced on the 4th of June that it was cutting all ties with the State of Israel, Israeli universities, and companies based in Israel. In an email to students, the board's chairman, Paul Farrell, stated that these ties would be severed due to Israel's ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law. These cuts include ending all future educational and research collaborations, refraining from new commercial relationships, and suspending mobility agreements with Israeli universities.
The decision comes after a task force was established following a five-day campus blockade by students protesting Israel's actions in Gaza. The task force, which included students, staff unions, and senior leadership, was chaired by Mary Irvine, former President of the High Court. Their recommendations, approved by the board, included full divestment from Israeli companies and avoiding Israeli suppliers and supply contracts, as well as collaborating with other universities to end European Union research cooperation with Israeli institutions.
The university had already terminated some supply contracts and would soon follow through on exchange agreements under the Erasmus+ program with Bar Ilan University (ending in July 2026) and Hebrew University of Jerusalem (ending in July 2025). However, the decision is to suspend any further mobility agreements.
This move by Trinity College Dublin aligns with broader symbolic actions by Ireland. For example, Ireland recognized a Palestinian state in May 2021 and supported legislation banning the import of goods from Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law. The country views itself as sharing a history with Palestine and has been a vocal critic of Israel's response to the 2023 attacks by Hamas militants.
Ireland has also joined South Africa in bringing a case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israeli officials have accused the Irish President, Michael D. Higgins, of anti-Semitism in response. Higgins responded that such defamatory insults undermine the meaning of anti-Semitism.
References:
- O'Connor, R. (2023, May 27). Ireland's Ban on Israeli Settlement Goods: An Unprecedented Move for the EU. al-Jazeera.
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Occupied Palestinian Territory. (2022, July 19). Humanitarian Bulletin No. 123. United Nations.
- Siobhan Hearne, Academics for Palestine. (2025, June 7). Press Release: Trinity College Dublin Divests from Israeli Occupation and Apartheid. Academics for Palestine.
- TCD Senate. (2025, June 4). TCD Cuts Ties with Israel over Violations of Humanitarian Law. Trinity College Dublin.
- Reilly, S. (2025, June 7). Irish Universities Review Their Ties with Israel. Independent.ie.
- The United Kingdom and France, along with other international entities, may observe with interest Trinity College Dublin's decision to cut ties with Israel, following its ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law.
- As the situation in Gaza persists, eduction-and-self-development institutions globally could potentially reassess their collaborations with Israeli universities, similar to Trinity College Dublin's move to suspend mobility agreements.
- In the realm of general-news and politics, Ireland's recent actions, such as the establishment of a task force and subsequent full divestment from Israeli companies, could serve as templates for other nations grappling with war-and-conflicts and humanitarian issues in Africa or elsewhere.
- The Irish government's decision to accuse Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, alongside South Africa, will be closely monitored by international justice systems and could potentially set new precedents in managing global conflict.
- In light of the Irish government's vocal criticisms of Israel's response to the 2023 attacks by Hamas militants, it is likely that global media outlets will focus on international as well as domestic responses to the ongoing Gaza crisis in their general-news reporting.
