Dozens of Palestinians were accepted into leading UK universities this year — with around 32 securing major scholarships. Their applications were submitted amid IDF attacks and many risked their lives for wi-fi or gave interviews with shrapnel lodged in their legs. But the UK Home Office and bureaucracy appears to be an insurmountable hurdle as they hope to start their academic lives.
Risking their lives to apply
According to a report by The Times, many of the candidates risked their lives to clear the screening process amid a continued barrage of IDF strikes. Many of the Gazans accepted into British universities now live in makeshift tents, transporting their exam papers through the rubble by donkey cart. Karam Elradie gave his interview for the University of Manchester with shrapnel embedded in his leg after an IDF strike. Another candidate reportedly crossed dangerous territory to a makeshift wi-fi hub to take an online exam — only for the signal to cut out halfway through. Others gave their interviews in the dead of night via WhatsApp and Signal using phones that were powered by car batteries or solar packs. Wifi and internet signals remain weak across the region with many degree-hopefuls trying for days to get a strong signal. Many of them
Approximately 80 students were eventually accepted into leading UK universities with many winning full scholarships. But they remain ‘trapped’ within the war-torn enclave with no way to take up their seats due to insurmountable British government rules. The UK Home Office continues to insist on mandatory biometric data to secure a visa — an impossibility since the relevant Gaza office has been shut since October 2023.
While it is theoretically possible for the students to visit Jordan and Egypt for documentation, they require British government intervention to leave Gaza. Italy had previously circumvented this issue by collecting data after the students crossed the border. Meanwhile neighbouring Ireland had taken out 16 students in May after waiving the requirement altogether.
Gaza war ‘must end now’
Twenty-five countries, including Britain and France, issued a joint statement on Monday calling for the war in Gaza to “end now”. The missive also called for Israel to comply with international law and condemned “the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food”. The foreign ministers of countries including Australia, Canada and Japan reiterated that “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths”.
“The Israeli government’s aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. The Israeli government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
The signatories included the foreign ministers of about 20 European countries as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the EU commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management. The US and Germany did not sign the statement.