Education Minister Paul Givan of Northern Ireland has found himself at the center of a political storm after a recent six-day visit to Israel, accompanied by a delegation of fellow unionist politicians. The trip, organized by the Israeli government, included briefings from Israel's foreign ministry, a visit to a Holocaust memorial, meetings with victims of Hamas, and a tour of Ofek School in Jerusalem. What might have been a routine international engagement has instead triggered fierce debate at Stormont, protests in Belfast, and a looming—if ultimately symbolic—no confidence motion in the Assembly.
According to BBC News, the controversy erupted when images and details of Givan’s school visit in Jerusalem were shared by the Department of Education (DoE) on its official platforms. Critics swiftly accused the minister of politicizing his office and using departmental resources to promote what they saw as a politically charged trip. Givan, however, has staunchly defended his actions, insisting the engagement was “entirely non-political.”
“I would challenge anybody to point out within the statement that was released through my department, any commentary of a political nature in relation to Israel,” Givan told the Assembly. “It was entirely non-political in terms of that aspect of the trip, which obviously, as Paul Givan the education minister, I visited the school and it would seem entirely appropriate that would be highlighted by the department.”
Givan further emphasized that the press release was reviewed and approved by the DoE’s permanent secretary, Ronnie Armour, and that the department’s involvement in organizing the trip amounted to “less than one hour of Civil Service time.” He added, “My permanent secretary reviewed the press release published by the department pertaining to the school visit, and he concluded that it had no political content, was directly related to my portfolio and therefore approved my request.”
Despite these assurances, the backlash has been swift and intense. The Northern Ireland Teachers’ Council (NITC), representing the region’s main teaching unions, called for the removal of the visit’s promotion from DoE sites, arguing that the department “should be politically neutral.” The NITC described it as “deeply troubling” that the education minister accepted an invitation to a state accused of genocide—a charge Israel firmly denies.
Givan’s critics within Stormont have not held back. Gerry Carroll from People Before Profit (PBP) submitted a motion of no confidence in Givan, a move quickly backed by Sinn Féin, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and Alliance. The motion, which is non-binding, is expected to secure the 30 signatures needed to trigger a debate in the Assembly. However, as the Belfast Telegraph notes, the motion is “destined to fail” because it requires cross-community support from both unionists and nationalists, something unlikely given the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) backing of Givan.
Speaking to BBC’s The Nolan Show, Givan said, “The trip came at no cost to the taxpayer, at all.” He also addressed the criticism directly on social media, stating, “I have been vilified by those who have sought to call into question my character and commitment to the people of Northern Ireland.” He added, “Sinn Féin, People Before Profit, the SDLP and Alliance are fooling no one. We can all see right through this smokescreen.”
The political response has been sharply divided along party lines. Sinn Féin’s Pat Sheehan, deputy chair of the education committee, accused Givan of “peddling the propaganda of a genocidal regime” and questioned why the minister “can’t accept the truth.” Givan fired back, alleging that Sheehan had previously met with Hamas, saying, “So don’t give me the crocodile tears when you’re pictured with and supporting Hamas terrorists.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald echoed her party’s outrage, declaring, “Minister Givan is not a victim in this scenario. The victims here are tens of thousands of innocent children and women and men who have been slaughtered over the course of more than two years.” She described Israel’s offensive in Gaza as a “genocidal regime.”
Alliance Deputy Leader Eóin Tennyson confirmed his party’s support for the no confidence motion, describing the visit as “nothing more than provocative coat trailing” at a highly sensitive political time. SDLP leader Claire Hanna said it was “entirely appropriate” for Assembly members to hold Givan to account, noting that many teachers had contacted her expressing deep concern about the minister’s actions. “A number of teachers who had contacted me struggled to have confidence in somebody who is endorsing so freely a system that has annihilated the education system and the educational opportunity for a generation of Palestinian kids,” Hanna told BBC’s The Nolan Show.
At a protest organized by PBP outside Belfast City Hall, teachers, Gaza solidarity activists, and community groups gathered to voice their opposition. Teacher Brendan Morgan addressed the crowd, saying, “I feel that many people in the teaching profession don’t have confidence in the education minister. It’s not representing all teachers. It’s a very, very political thing.” Margaret Deevy from Mothers Against Genocide added, “We look to our education minister for leadership, for guidance—he has absolutely fallen short here.”
On the other side of the aisle, Givan’s party and its allies have rallied around him. DUP leader Gavin Robinson was unequivocal: “Paul Givan is going nowhere. Unionists will not be bullied by the whims of the pan-republican front. I choose who serves as a DUP minister and whatever about the faux outrage and petty politicking, Paul has my full support.” Robinson dismissed the criticism as “performative pantomime politics,” insisting that the attacks on Givan were little more than political theatre.
Steve Aiken of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), who also participated in the trip, pointed out that the school visited in Jerusalem was “led by Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders” and that their meeting took place “in what was a bomb shelter.” The UUP and Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) parties have indicated they will join the DUP in voting against the no confidence motion.
The context for this controversy is the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. On October 7, 2023, a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 others. Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza has, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, led to more than 68,500 deaths. In September 2025, the world’s leading association of genocide scholars declared that genocide was occurring in Gaza, a claim Israel continues to reject.
As the Assembly prepares for the no confidence debate, the episode has highlighted the deep divisions in Northern Irish politics and the challenges of navigating international issues in a local context. While the motion is almost certain to fail, the intensity of the debate and the passions it has stirred suggest that the fallout from Givan’s trip—and the wider questions it raises—are far from over.
