Trinity College Dublin has officially announced a complete divestment from Israel, severing all academic and business links with Israeli institutions. The move, revealed after a board meeting this week, marks a historic decision as public anger continues to grow in Ireland over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
The decision comes as part of a formal response to a task force recommendation issued after last year’s pro-Palestine campus encampment.
“This task force was created following the board-approved resolution statement after the encampment on campus last year,” the university said in an official statement.
Chaired by former High Court President Mary Irvine, the taskforce convened more than a dozen times. It analysed varied evidence and collected close to 100 submissions from staff and students.
“I want to thank Mary Irvine and the other members of the task force who contributed significant time and expertise over the past year to consider these important issues so thoroughly,” Trinity added.
This Trinity College divestment from Israel means:
- Termination of remaining academic exchange deals with Israeli universities.
- Ban on forming any future partnerships with Israeli institutions or businesses.
- Continuation of current Erasmus agreements with Bar Ilan University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem only until their expiry in 2026.
The report clarified that while Trinity participates in EU-funded research consortia involving Israeli partners, there is no evidence linking those projects to violations of humanitarian law. Therefore, withdrawal from those ongoing projects is not feasible at present.
The university clarified the decision isn’t open-ended without assessment. “These will be enacted for the duration of the ongoing violations of international and humanitarian law,” the statement read. The Board plans to revisit the matter later in the year, with a final report expected.
Zoe Lawlor, from the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, called the decision a “landmark step in academic rejection of apartheid Israel’s regime.”
This announcement follows Ireland’s bold diplomatic steps, including:
- Official recognition of Palestine alongside Spain and Norway.
- Open support for South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
These moves have drawn sharp criticism from Israel, which closed its embassy in Dublin late last year. The Irish government has firmly rejected claims of antisemitism.
As one of Ireland’s top academic institutions, Trinity’s divestment from Israel could set an example for other universities in the UK and Europe. With similar solidarity campaigns gathering pace, this decision could add momentum to divestment drives elsewhere. The final task force report is expected to be released before the end of 2025.
