The University Observer Editorial Team reflects on the past year of student solidarity with Palestine
ONE YEAR OF GENOCIDE
42,979 PALESTINIANS KILLED
16,765 CHILDREN KILLED
11,500 STUDENTS KILLED
175 JOURNALISTS KILLED
188 STUDENT ENCAMPMENTS
0 UNIVERSITIES REMAINING IN GAZA
In the past year, more than 42,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Palestine, more than 16,000 of which are children. More recently, Israel has expanded its war in the Middle-East to Lebanon, as they began their ground invasion two weeks ago on October 1.
The Israeli Defence Force (IDF), under advisement from the far-right Israeli Government led by Benjamin Netenyahu, has most recently deliberately targeted United Nations Peacekeepers in military strikes.
United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported on Sunday morning that two Israeli tanks “destroyed” the main gate of their complex in Southern Lebanon, whilst Israeli Prime Minister Netenyahu called on UN Chief Antonio Guterres to remove peacekeeping forces in Southern Lebanon.
Commander of Irish Peacekeepers in South Lebanon Lieutenant Colonel Tom Fox has said that targeting and injuring United Nations soldiers is “totally unacceptable” after a UN soldier was injured in gunfire close to the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura.
Timeline of Solidarity
UCD Students’ Union have supported the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement since 2018, mandating support for Palestine through awareness initiatives. On 6 November 2023, the SU reaffirmed its Palestinian solidarity and further mandated the SU President and Campaigns and Engagement Officer to campaign for a ceasefire in Palestine. On 9 November 2023, a UCD faction of the BDS movement was formed.
By the end of 2023, UCD BDS had a growing and visible presence on campus. On 16 February 2024, they protested Bernie Sanders’ visit to UCD campus for a book event, citing his “129 days of silence” on Palestine. As the situation worsens in Gaza, solidarity with Palestine in UCD continues to grow; building on a year of student activism in UCD.
27 March 2024
UCDSU and UCD BDS occupy the Tierney building, where UCD Administration and President Orla Feely have their offices. Following a protest at the Main Lake, protestors march to the Tierney building and attempt to gain entry. After being prevented entry by security, protestors turn to the Newman building. They then gain access to the Tierney building through the connecting Newman tunnel, and call on President Feely to “stop supporting genocide”.
22 April 2024
Former US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visits to receive an honorary doctorate degree from UCD and the L&H Society. UCDSU President Martha Ní Ríada is forcibly removed from the event by plain-clothed gardaí after voicing opposition to the US Government's stance on Palestine. Ní Ríada shouts "What about Palestinian Women" as she is pulled from the room.
11 May 2024
UCDSU and UCD BDS began their encampment outside The University Club, across the lake from the James Joyce Library. Organisers published a list of 11 demands to social media, their encampment a response to UCD’s “absence of a call for a permanent ceasefire and a reluctance to review partnerships with Israeli institutions.” The encampment was well attended, organising regular protests, solidarity workshops and screenings.
8 June 2024
UCD BDS and UCDSU announce “victory” as UCD agrees to work towards 10 out of the 11 encampment demands. UCD releases a statement recognising the International Court of Justice ruling under the Genocide Convention, and “the destruction in Palestine by Israel.” UCD does not agree to cut academic ties with Israeli universities, citing “academic freedom.” UCD BDS declares the “fight for a free Palestine is far from over.”
5 October 2024
UCDSU and UCD BDS attend the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) National Protest, one of the largest yet. SU President Miranda Bauer addresses the crowd on behalf of UCDSU and Jews for Palestine Ireland, vowing to continue the “fight for Palestinian liberation”.
8 October 2024
UCD Islamic Society, UCD BDS and UCDSU held a vigil to commemorate one year since the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza. More than 100 people attended the vigil, which saw a selection of speakers address the group. Those in attendance then read aloud names of the more than 41,000 Palestinians killed in the past year. After almost two hours of reading, the group had read 22 out of the 498-page-long death list, all victims thus far two-years-old and younger.
Comments from UCDSU and UCD BDS
Speaking with The University Observer, UCD SU President Miranda Bauer recounts how last October, the Students’ Union’s other priorities had to “fall apart.” All efforts turned to ensuring that Palestinian students in UCD were supported, and lobbying the university to disclose and divest from any ties to Israeli institutions, in line with the BDS movement. After months of silence from President Orla Feely, UCDSU and UCD BDS began their encampment, an escalation unlike any seen before in UCD. Looking back, Bauer is impressed by how “everyone got together” and that so many students learned “how to be vigilant of things that are happening in society that we heavily disagree with, and we think, in this case, is a crime against humanity.”
Bauer notes that the agreement reached with the university is progressing in a positive manner, with the agreed working groups on ethical investment, sustainable procurement, and an anti-racist campus already set up, alongside a ring-fenced number of scholarships for Palestinian students.
Now, Bauer will direct the SU’s focus to the National Government. She says, “we believe that the university and us are going to collaborate in a way that is very positive, we know that the Irish government isn't doing the same thing [...] our efforts are now directed at the government. We are focusing more on national protests, and we're focusing more on collaborations with other groups that stand in solidarity with Palestine in Ireland.”
On October 5 2024, representing both UCDSU and Jews for Palestine Ireland, Bauer addressed the large crowds at the IPSC National Protest, calling on the Government to enact the Occupied Territories Bill, and to stop allowing Israeli weapons through Irish airspace. She said;
“We are outraged by people who use our Judaism to justify the atrocities that take place. [...] Don’t let Israel, a country that has existed for 1% of Judaism history, commit atrocities and rewrite history in our name. Not in our name.”
Bauer continued, “It’s very clear that the students are and will continue to be unapologetically pro-Palestine. To the Irish government, the future of Ireland will continue to fight the occupation, will continue to fight against the Israeli apartheid system, and will continue to fight for Palestinian liberation.”
In a statement provided by UCD BDS, the group reflected on the past year of atrocities that have been committed in Palestine. The group stated that “the level of human misery is incomprehensible”, referencing in particular the significant death toll, “hospitals targeted in airstrikes”, and “journalists murdered for reporting from the ground.”
The statement continued, criticising the world’s response,
“We are watching countless war crimes unfold before our eyes while the UN, the EU and the Irish Government lag utterly behind in taking any meaningful stance against the Israeli Government.
Reflecting on the summer encampment which lasted 30 days, the group say they have seen “material progress on all of the demands” won after lengthy negotiations. Specifically, they highlighted that four students from Palestine have been granted access for “fully funded education and maintenance for the 2024/25 college year.”
Furthermore, UCD is working towards the formation of a new committee to expand the existing Anti-Racism and Cultural Awareness policy in order to “turn UCD into an anti-racist, anti-apartheid campus through art, architecture and pedagogy.” UCD BDS confirmed that they and the Students’ Union would be nominating student representatives for these boards, whilst they “look forward to the material change they will deliver to end UCD’s complicity in genocide and the wider war industry.”
UCD BDS state that their work “is just beginning”, having been formally established in November 2023. They will continue to organise on campus to ensure that UCD follows through on the agreement reached in June. Similarly, they will continue to pressure the university on their commitment to create an “anti-racist, anti-apartheid campus” whilst supporting “anti-fascist organising in collaboration with United Against Racism.”
UCD BDS reaffirmed their commitment to “continue to educate people on the Palestinian struggle [...] and to protest for a robust adoption of BDS by the Irish state.” In closing, the group declared that they will “not accept anything less than transparency and adherence” to the June agreement, and will take “action as appropriate” as a result.
Image Credits: Oisín Gaffey, Lucy Warmington, Aaron Ó Muircheartaigh, Tessa Ndjonkou