Please read the statement below and add your name and UCD affiliation at the end if you wish to be listed as a signatory when this statement is published.
As staff and students who work and study in UCD College of Arts and Humanities, we join our colleagues and peers from UCD College of Social Sciences and Law in calling on our university to join the call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and to condemn the genocidal war carried out by the occupying Israeli state there and the concurrent escalation of violence against Palestinians across the Occupied Territories.
Last November, almost two months into this catastrophic bombardment of Gaza, fifteen Palestinian universities called on international academic institutions to demand a ceasefire and stand against the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. The University of Galway has recently answered this call with a statement issued by its President, Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh on February 8th. Since then, the occupying Israeli military has intensified its siege despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that the Israeli government take immediate action to prevent genocide and war crimes, for which the court established plausibility.
Israel’s war on Gaza has now displaced at least 1.7 million people, which is about 75% of the entire population of the territory. At least 28,775 Gazans have been killed in Israel’s onslaught, over 70% of whom are women and children. Gaza’s civilian and medical infrastructure has been systematically destroyed and according to the UN World Food Programme, “half of Gaza's population is starving and 90% of the population regularly go without food for a whole day.” Multiple agencies warn that famine looms and disease will continue to spread given the conditions hostile to life in Israel’s war of collective punishment on an already-occupied population composed largely of refugees.
As we write, the Israeli military is targeting Rafah, an area close to the barricaded Egyptian border in which more than 1.5 million displaced people are sheltering. Any such attack with cause devastating harm to civilians. As staff and students of UCD College of Arts and Humanities we call urgently on UCD to join University of Galway in taking a principled stand. This is no time to be silent.
In her response last November to concerned students and staff, UCD President Orla Feely held that “It is not my policy to express positions on behalf of UCD in respect of geopolitical issues” and that to do so would prevent the free expression of “a diversity of views”. By contrast, in 2022 UCD felt able to take a strong position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the administration stating that “UCD deplores and condemns the actions of Russia in invading and attacking Ukraine”, which it recognised as “a violation of international law.” We note the discrepancy in UCD’s position, and ask how such inconsistency can be rationalized? Are Palestinians not equally entitled to security and dignity as Ukrainians?
All 12 universities in Gaza have been destroyed; 94 university professors have been murdered, and at least 88 journalists have been killed, many it is believed in targeted attacks. At least 4,850 students and 239 teachers have been killed, many more injured. The occupying Israeli military has also targeted archives, libraries and museums, repositories of Palestinian culture and history. These include the Central Archive of Gaza City, repository of 150 years of Gaza’s history; Gaza Municipal Library, the largest public library in Gaza; and the 7th century Omari Mosque and Library, which housed “one of the most significant collections of rare books in Palestine”. The deliberate destruction of a people’s cultural heritage, educational infrastructure, the killing of its knowledge producers and carriers are also acts of genocidal erasure, as argued by Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh as part of South Africa’s case against Israel in the ICJ.
Just 10 of 36 hospitals in Gaza remain partially functioning. At least 374 health care workers have been killed, several in targeted attacks. Ambulances have been attacked, 120 completely destroyed. Before October 7th, an average of 500 trucks carrying supplies were allowed access to Gaza by Israel; this has plummeted to an average of fewer than 200 trucks per day being allowed entry by the occupying Israeli military.
The International Court of Justice interim ruling found a ‘plausible risk of genocide’ in Gaza, and ordered Israel “to take all measures within its power” to prevent further killing and destruction of the conditions necessary for life, and to allow for the immediate provision of services and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The ICJ also enjoined the international community to remember their obligation to ensure the prevention of genocide. In the wake of the ICJ ruling and the flaunting of that ruling by Israel, we see the Irish government’s position shifting to vocal calls for an immediate ceasefire, financial and diplomatic support for UNRWA and coalition with Spain in requesting the European Commission to look at trade agreements with Israel.
The death and destruction that has devastated Gaza is not abstract or remote for members of the UCD community. There are staff and students in UCD who are grieving the deaths of family and extended family and the destruction of their home places in Gaza, in the West Bank, in East Jerusalem. We must not stay silent in the face of this devastation.
We echo our colleagues in COSSL in urgently calling on UCD to:
-Issue a statement in condemnation of the attacks that have devastated the civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including education, and in support of a permanent ceasefire.
-Recognise the ICJ’s interim ruling that the attacks on Gaza represent a plausible case of genocide and the court’s determination that Israel must take immediate action to prevent genocide and that all states party to the convention are obliged to act to prevent genocide.
-Suspend all formal and informal ties with Israeli institutions of higher education, in line with the call for an academic boycott of Israel issued by the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
-Ensure the safety, respect, and dignity of those members of the university community directly and indirectly affected by this conflict, first and foremost Palestinian students and staff, and condemn xenophobic and racist rhetoric on our campus. We demand the same for our Jewish colleagues, students and friends. There is no room for anti-semitism on campus.
-Support the dismantling of the illegal settlement and the apartheid system across the Occupied Palestinian Territories and to recognise and support the right of return that has been denied to Palestinians for 75 years.
We call on the UCD president to play your role, however small it may seem, in acting to ensure the prevention of genocide by lending our institutional voice to the urgent calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid to Gaza.
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Academic & Administrative Staff
Adam Kelly, Associate Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Aiveen McPartlin, UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy
Amy McDonald, Senior Administrator, Creative Futures Academy
Amy Smith, Programme Manager, UCD Arts & Humanities College Office
Dr Anne Mulhall, Associate Professor, UCD School of English, Drama & Film
Carla Briggs, UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy
Dr Catherine Ann Cullen, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Claudia Dellacasa, IRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Danielle Clarke, Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
David Ó Laigheanáin, Ríomhchláraitheoir Taighde/Research Programmer, Scoil na Gaeilge, an Léinn Cheiltigh agus an Bhéaloidis UCD/UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies, and Folklore
Dr Donal Fulham, Assistant Professor, UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy
Dr Éireann Lorsung, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Emma Bennett, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Eoin McEvoy, Educational Technologist, Scoil na Gaeilge, an Léinn Cheiltigh agus an Bhéaloidis UCD/UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore
Dr Fionnuala Dillane, Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Grace Delaney-Henson, Administrator, UCD Arts & Humanities College Office
Hannah Shea, UCD Arts & Humanities College Office
Dr Irial Glynn, UCD School of History
Professor Jane Grogan, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Jeanne Tiehan, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Jennifer Keating, UCD School of History
Dr Jeremiah Garsha, UCD School of History
John Matthews, Educational Technologist, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Karen Wade, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Katherine Fama, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Liam Chambers, Administrator, UCD Arts & Humanities College Office
Associate Professor Luca Crispi, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Lucy Collins, Associate Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Sean Leatherbury, Assistant Professor, UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy
Dr Stephen Lucek, Assistant Professor, UCD School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
Dr Maria Mulvany, Lecturer, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Maria Stuart, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Martha Shearer, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Mary Farrelly, Assistant Professor, UCD School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics
Dr Matt Prout, IRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Associate Professor Nerys Williams, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Associate Professor Naomi McAreavey, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Natasha Remoundou, Research Associate/Lecturer, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Niamh Campbell, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Nick Daly, Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Patrick Anthony, UCD School of History
Dr Sarah Comyn, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Sharae Deckard, Associate Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Stacy Grouden, School Manager, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Ríona Nic Congáil, Associate Professor, Scoil na Gaeilge, an Léinn Cheiltigh agus an Bhéaloidis UCD/UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore
Professor Tadhg Ó hAnnracháin, UCD School of History
Dr Tim Groenland, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Dr Treasa De Loughry, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Tupur Chatterjee, Assistant Professor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
PhD Researchers & Postgraduate Students
Adam Byrne, postgraduate student, UCD School of History
Áine O’Neill, postgraduate student, UCD School of History
Alba de Juan y López, postgraduate student, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Anika Babel, PhD researcher, UCD School of Music
Beth Doyle, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Caylum O’Neill, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Ciara Dempsey, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Ciarán Treacy, Tutor, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Clare Ní Cheallaigh, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Iulia Molnar, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Jacob Miller, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
James McCormack, Postgraduate Student, UCD School of History
Joe Simpson, PhD researcher, UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore
Katie Whelan, PhD researcher, UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore
Lauren Cassidy, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Lorna Watters, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Marty Gilroy, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Mathieu Bokestael, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Odin O’Sullivan, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Pádraig Bailey
Phoebe O’Leary, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Pooja Sastry, PhD researcher, UCD School of Art History and Cultural Policy
Poulomi Choudhury, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Robin Steve, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Ruth Flynn, postgraduate student, UCD School of History
Simon Costello, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Stiofán Ó Briain, PhD researcher, UCD School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore
Taylor Follett, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Teddy Power, PhD researcher, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
William Perry, postgraduate student, UCD School of English, Drama and Film
Undergraduate Students
Abigail Rhodes
Áine Sinnott
Aisling Cousins
Aisling Sweeney
Amy Devaney
Amy Rothwell
Anastasia McAndrew
Aoife Coghlan
Aoife McAnena Lyttle
Audrey Moyer
Brian Hurley
Charlotte Bisset
Cian Bubendorfer
Cian Ennis
Ciara Byrne
Clara Jacinto Ferreira
Coleman Hegarty
Cora O’Brien
Daniel Branigan
Dara Mac Aodha
Diana Susanu
Dilara Uzun Doran
Éabha Hughes
Edel Moloney
Eimear Hannan
Ellie Sharpe
Em Ryan
Emma Kerwick
Ettore Marini
Eva-Jane Lavelle
Eva Stewart
Evie Paul
Fiachra Lughaidh Barry
Finn Reilly
Francesco Neo Bach
Gemma Bini
Gloria Atameklo
Grace Adams
Grace Brewer
Grace McMurray
Grainne Glynn
Gráinne Meghen
Harry Ennis
Ilon Wright
Irina Sokolova
Jack Tarr Malone
James Farrell
Jessica McDonnell
Joseph Collins
Julieta García Dussan
Katie Cribbin
Katie Foley
Katie Whelan
Kelvyn Fields
Leah O’Brien Dempsey
Lia Durkin
Liêm Parsons
Lucy Cawley
Luka Simic
Luna Sinclair
Max Maclay
Max O’Donohoe
Mia Könsgen
Michael Casserly
Niall Brady
Nicole Power
Noa Narmala
Noah Rasimus
Oakley Wisniewska
Pauline Gayahan
Rebekah Kavanagh
Reem Donia
Robin Turner
Róisín Ní Uallacháin
Ronan Shanley
Ruby Cullinan
Runo Mäkeläinen
Sadhbh Byrne
Sadhbh McDermott
Salma Laassri
Seán Brennan McLoughlin
Shane Vernon
Sinead Olowookere
Sky Tsuda Pillsbury
Sophie Görlich
Sophie Finucane
Sophie Walsh
Sorcha Smith
Stella Byng
Theodore Robert James Pierce
Tyrone Angelo Zabal
Valeria Gabriela Panaitov
Winnie Anna Kouematchoua Mboumini
