IDEA FOR PALESTINE

Palestinian flag waving in front of a stone building

As a community of educators grounded in human rights and global justice, IDEA stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We condemn the ongoing mass slaughter, starvation, dehumanisation and the system of illegal occupation, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid that Palestinians face daily. Israel’s actions - including indiscriminate killing, land annexation, the denial of basic necessities and systematic breaches of international humanitarian and human rights law - must end. 


International bodies such as the International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, UN General Assembly, UN Human Rights Council, and multiple UN Special Rapporteurs have affirmed the urgent need for accountability. Ireland and the EU are obliged under international law to respond meaningfully. 


IDEA engages with Palestine as a long-standing, large-scale settler-colonial injustice, while recognising the ongoing realities of occupation, apartheid and systemic violations of Palestinian rights. These issues speak directly to human rights, solidarity and Global Citizenship Education (GCE)/Development Education (DE). Many IDEA members have shown longstanding leadership through education, advocacy and solidarity, and have asked IDEA to support and amplify this work.


We also recognise that other global crises - including in Sudan, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of Congo - demand urgent attention. Our focus on Palestine does not diminish the importance of connecting GCE with these contexts; rather, it reflects member engagement, the issue’s longstanding relevance to GCE/DE, and the internationally recognised urgency of the current situation. 


As educators, IDEA recognises that entrenched injustice can be challenged through informed, critical and values-driven education. We support and amplify members taking meaningful action on Palestine as a core part of their GCE/DE work, while ensuring this work remains grounded in IDEA’s core mission to strengthen and advance GCE/DE across the island of Ireland. 
 
While IDEA is not a campaigning organisation, members of IDEA’s staff and National Council members regularly participate in demonstrations, public events and solidarity initiatives. We recognise the desire among many for increased visibility and agree that urgent action is needed. IDEA’s constitution, remit and funding framework mean that our primary role is to support sector development, strengthen quality and uphold high standards in Global Citizenship Education, rather than lead political or humanitarian campaigns. Within these parameters, we remain committed to supporting member-led advocacy and contributing meaningfully to collective efforts for justice and solidarity. 


Given this role, IDEA’s most meaningful contribution to Palestine solidarity is to: 

  • support and amplify the work of members that are already active, 
  • encourage broader engagement across the sector, and 
  • participate in wider civil society efforts when these align with IDEA’s remit, values and organisational capacity. 


We also recognise the constructive leadership role that we can play in mobilising greater awareness, understanding and action through education, solidarity and collaboration. 


As the national platform for GCE/DE, IDEA represents a diverse membership and holds a sector-wide responsibility, balancing many priorities while stewarding resources carefully. Within this, we remain firmly committed to supporting our members’ longstanding leadership on Palestine and to ensuring that the realities of occupation, apartheid, systemic injustice and the findings of international courts continue to be addressed through high-quality Global Citizenship Education, while supporting advocacy efforts where appropriate. We will continue to uphold the principles of justice, accountability and solidarity that underpin GCE/DE, and contribute to collective efforts for freedom, dignity and human rights for the Palestinian people. 


IDEA will continue to reflect on and refine our advocacy approach, reviewing what more can be done to ensure that we respond meaningfully, responsibly and with integrity to this evolving context. 

Man holding a child and a red, green, black, and white flag on a city street

IDEA's Recent Palestine Related Activities

Sector Convening & Support:


  • Facilitating a Palestine-specific all-member survey in collaboration with the Working Group, to better understand members’ activities and perspectives.


  • Encouraging and contributing to the development of an Apartheid Free Zone declaration and audit framework for the GCE sector by the Working Group, testing the draft framework internally, and making changes to our procurement criteria to ensure adherence through our operational policies and procedures.


  • Facilitating a member-led photo action at the 2025 IDEA Annual Conference, calling for the Central Bank to stop facilitating the sale of Israel bonds.


  • Facilitating a dedicated space for Palestine at IDEA Code Network meetings in 2024 and the IDEA AGM Member Forum in 2025.


  • Supporting and promoting the establishment and operation of the member-led Development Education on Palestine Working Group (from October 2024). This includes staff support and administrative resources, and regular opportunities for the group of 19 members to advance initiatives with IDEA’s support


Educational Events & Webinars:



  • November 2025 - Webinar: Enact the Occupied Territories Bill


  • May 2025 - Workshop: Meaningful Action on Palestine at the 2025 IDEA Annual Conference


  • April 2025 - Webinar: Exploring Contemporary Crises & Global Citizenship Education: Palestine


  • March 2024 - Webinar: We Need to Talk About Gaza


IDEA staff also continue ongoing internal learning on Israel and Palestine, strengthening responsible GCE practice. 


Advocacy and Solidarity: 
  • Joining Afri and Talamh Beo in a joint letter urging Ireland to support renewal of the UN Working Group’s mandate on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, highlighting violations affecting Palestinian farming communities in the occupied West Bank, September 2026.




  • Creating an internship for a Gazan graduate seeking work experience and a pathway into the GCE/DE and development sector


  • Issuing a Global Sumud Flotilla solidarity statement.


  • Supporting calls for Ireland to join the Hague Group. 


  • Signing the 30+ civil society open letter urging Ireland to support UN General Assembly action on Gaza. 


  • Submitting a letter to the Central Bank calling for it to stop facilitating the sale of Israel bonds. 


  • Working closely with the Working Group to devise and send a letter to the Taoiseach raising concerns that the flawed and widely contested IHRA definition of anti-semitism undermined the ability of IDEA members to provide Global Citizenship Education on Palestine and was out of alignment with the Irish Government’s commitment under its Global Citizenship Education Strategy and human rights commitments. Also, supporting the creation of a separate version of this letter, referencing the Good Friday Agreement, which we sent to the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat for the Good Friday Agreement.


Communications and Representation   
  • Amplifying member-led Palestine initiatives and resources.


  • Integrating Palestine into newsletters and media coverage.


  • Reflecting Palestine in IDEA presentations and workshops.


  • Sharing member reflections on solidarity with Gaza and the role of global educators through IDEA Voices, December 2025.


  • Highlighting Palestine solidarity internationally at the Global Citizenship Education Conference in Korea, August 2025.


  • Including Palestine solidarity in the Global Voice for Humanity Award for President Higgins, May 2025, and in related media coverage.


Ongoing Commitment 

IDEA remains committed to a member-led approach to Palestine solidarity, focusing on amplifying the work of those members who are actively engaged in education, public engagement, advocacy and meaningful action, and ensuring that Palestine remains visible as a critical example of global injustice within GCE/DE. We will continue to support high-quality educational work on Palestine, amplify members’ GCE and advocacy work on Palestine and engage in strategic advocacy that reflects and represents the diversity of our membership where appropriate and according to our capacity and resources. All of IDEA’s advocacy and public positioning will remain member-informed, aligned with sector needs, and grounded in the principles of human rights, decolonisation, justice and educational integrity. This includes maintaining a clear and consistent stance against Israel’s ongoing occupation and systemic violations of Palestinian rights. 


Members' Education and Solidarity Work

IDEA’s member organisations are deeply engaged in a wide range of educational, advocacy and solidarity initiatives on Palestine. This includes workshops, campaigns, resources, school and community programmes, public events, research, and policy engagement. Selected examples of members’ educational resources, research and solidarity initiatives include:


  • ChangeMakers Donegal/Inishowen Development Partnership: Palestine Film Club, connecting Palestinian farmers’ experiences with community learning through film and a farm visit, May 2026. On-going collaborations with Talamh Beo on themes of Food Justice, Farming and Solidarity with Palestine (July 2025 to present); Annual Palestine film showcase at the Disappear Here Film Festivalin Ballyliffin supported by Concern Worldwide and a new short documentary by Donegal filmmaker, Paul McCarroll called What Did You Do During the Genocide?,which looks at grassroots activism in Donegal to develop an Apartheid Free Zone in Inishowen, Co Donegal, October 2026.






 

  • Development Perspectives: Not All Roads Lead to Rome, an Amplifying Voices podcast episode exploring Palestinian experiences of statelessness and barriers to education and employment.



  • Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine: coalition work involving members including ActionAid Ireland, Afri, the Centre for Global Education, Comhlámh and Trócaire.




  • Irish Anti-Apartheid Campaign for Palestine: coalition work involving members including ActionAid Ireland, Afri, the Centre for Global Education, Comhlámh and Trócaire.


  • Trócaire has a long history of education, campaigns and advocacy work on Palestine. It regularly publishes news, analysis and insights that centre the experiences and rights of people in Gaza and the West Bank, helping inform and engage the Irish public. It started advocating for an Irish ban on settlement trade in 2012 and was part of the core group of NGOs pushing for legislation. It also develops Palestine-focused teaching resources, including an “Introduction to Palestine” presentation and Palestinian case studies to examine access to water. The materials are suitable for primary, post- primary, and youth settings.