Gaza students take Ireland to court over visa refusals

At least 103 Palestinian students who have had their visas rejected in Ireland this year, with visa approval rates dropping from 83.8 percent in 2025 to just 27.5 percent this year. Last week, a team of lawyers challenged Minister of Justice Jim O’Callaghan’s refusal, asking him to reverse the decision. The instructed barristers are Blinne Ni Ghralaigh, who represented South Africa at the International Court of Justice in its genocide case against Israel, and Eamonn Dornan. The solicitors include Sinead Marmion and Alannah Faulkner, alongside several junior counsel. The legal action was launched last week, beginning with the case of Palestinian student Hafez Alrayyes, from Gaza. ' Read more: Gaza students take Ireland to court over visa refusals