Palestinian scholars with overseas scholarships blocked by Irish visa refusals amid Gaza war
Palestinian students who earned scholarships abroad, like Mahmoud Aldaya, are being denied Irish visas, leaving them stranded in war-torn Gaza.
Mahmoud Aldaya, a 24-year-old who excelled at Gaza University despite constant bombardment, earned a scholarship to study at the University of Limerick, yet the Irish government denied his visa in August, keeping him in Gaza City where recent drone strikes killed civilians. Irish Department of Justice data show that, up to 21 August, only 39 of 103 Palestinian long-stay study visas were approved this year, a sharp drop from an 83.8 % approval rate in 2025.
Students argue that immigration rules—such as providing certified bank statements, proof of funds of at least €10,000, and evidence they will return—are nearly impossible to meet from within Gaza’s devastated infrastructure. A High Court lawsuit filed by Phoenix Law seeks to overturn the rejections. The problem mirrors wider visa hurdles faced by Palestinian scholars applying to universities in Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Canada and the United States, where documentation, biometric and postal requirements further impede their departure.
Why it matters
Visa denials trap educated Palestinians, undermining their futures and limiting international academic exchange during the Gaza crisis.
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