Protestors in Trinity College Dublin have said they will continue their encampment after the college announced it would divest from some Israeli investments. 

Trinity announced it would divest from Israeli investments that “have activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and appear on the UN Blacklist". 

The college also promised to establish a taskforce that would review its academic ties to Israeli institutions such as Tel Aviv University. 

Protestors at the ongoing encampment have welcomed the “partial success” - but have pledged to continue until all demand “are met in full”. 

Protestors at Trinity encampment celebrate as college promises to review ties with Israeli institutions and says it “supports International Court of Justice’s finding on genocide” in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/hvjOBw4QJa

— ellen (@ellenfkenny) May 6, 2024

Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) President László Molnárfi said there are further investments that must be cut. 

“The remaining Israeli companies in the Endowment Fund,” he said. “Then there's Israeli suppliers. 

“[There are] two student exchanges with Israeli academic institutions that we would also like to be scrapped and divested from in accordance with boycott, divestment, and sanctions principles.” 

Protestors have also demanded everyone taking part in the encampment – and those who took part in previous protests – are granted “amnesty” by the college. 

Encampment at Trinity College Dublin with protestors calling on the college to cut ties with Israel, 06/05/2024. Image: Ellen Kenny

The students’ union has also demanded Trinity withdraw its €214,000 bill to the union for “disruptive protests” throughout the year. 

Students and staff have been camping outside the Book of Kells since Friday evening, with numbers reaching roughly 100 across 80 tents. 

Trinity has promised that Gardaí will not be called to the camp and the protest will be treated as an “internal” issue. 

Trinity blockade

Mr Molnárfi said the blockade of the famous tourist attraction is justified. 

“There is currently an ongoing genocide in Gaza, our university is facilitating this genocide,” he said. 

“They have connections with Israeli institutions that produce research that when put into practice is the weapons and the bombs that the IDF and Israeli State use to continue its brutal oppression of the Palestinian people.” 

While Trinity is open to students and staff with valid ID, it remains closed to the public, with the Book of Kells shut until at least the end of the week. 

Some tourists hoping to see the book today do not believe the protest is justified. 

“They are protesting something which is a consequence of something their leaders did,” one tourist said. 

“So, start from there and maybe some of the things will follow and rectify themselves.” 

Encampment at Trinity College Dublin with protestors calling on the college to cut ties with Israel, 06/05/2024. Image: Ellen Kenny

Another tourist, however, said the students’ freedom of speech is also important. 

“I think that this is their home and we're visiting them,” she said. 

“So, I mean, if it's inconvenient for me, it's not really the end of the world.” 

Following a meeting with college management, protestors also agreed to remove the memorial benches that were blockading the Book of Kells and replaced them with a sign advertising the tourist attraction.