Evacuated Gazan students begin UK studies after evacuation

Thirty-four Palestinian students evacuated from Gaza have arrived in the United Kingdom to begin their studies at UK universities, the first time since the Gaza war that evacuees have begun academic programs in Britain. The students hold fully funded scholarships that include places on the Chevening Scholarship, the UK government’s flagship international study scheme, and they were taken to Jordan last week to complete visa checks before traveling to Britain. The arrivals come after weeks of uncertainty about travel amid a widening conflict in Gaza, including a major Israeli ground offensive on Gaza City that has intensified concerns for safety and welfare of students and their families.

Universities across the United Kingdom welcomed the group, with students enrolled in programs in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Manchester. Some began classes within hours of landing, while others prepared for the start of term. Three students from the first evacuation round have also arrived in Northern Ireland, where economy minister Caoimhe Archibald said she was pleased they had arrived safely and could pursue their studies. The government and universities have said they will provide counseling, language support where needed, and housing assistance to help the students settle in after their arduous journey.

Dr. Nora Parr, a University of Birmingham researcher coordinating the support effort, described the transition as a difficult but hopeful moment. She said the students are starting what will be a long process of settling into life in Britain. ‘While places on their courses are dreams come true, they live these dreams alongside the nightmare of what their families continue to endure,’ Parr told the BBC. Officials said the 34 are part of a larger group of offers, with nearly 40 more students thought to be eligible and awaiting a next round of evacuations so they can take up their places in the coming weeks.

The group’s departure underscores a broader dilemma: several families have had to weigh the opportunity to study abroad against the risk of separating from loved ones back home. At least four mothers and one father have declined places so far because they could not leave their children behind in Gaza. One case highlighted by BBC coverage involved Manar al-Houbi, who has a PhD place at the University of Glasgow and who said she was shocked to learn evacuation would require leaving behind her three young children and husband. Her situation was raised with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg program; Lammy responded that the government wants to bring people who are able to study, not to cause them further pain or hardship by forcing families to separate. ‘We want to bring students who can study without unnecessarily compounding the suffering they have already endured,’ he said.

At a ceremony in London on Monday, a Palestinian flag was raised to mark the UK government’s recognition of a Palestinian state, and Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK, paid tribute to the students. ‘Can you imagine what it took for them and their families and communities to achieve this? To study and take exams and fill out applications in the throes of a genocide, under bombs, without electricity and on empty stomachs,’ Zomlot said. The moment underscored how political gestures intersect with the practical aid of helping students pursue education amid grave humanitarian need.

The students’ arrival comes as Britain continues to navigate a broad policy challenge tied to Gaza: how to support education and safety for those who seek to study here while ensuring the needs and rights of families remain a central concern. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper noted that the conflict in Gaza has had an appalling impact on education, with many children unable to access schooling, but she stressed that Gaza students have shown resilience in pursuing their studies despite the backdrop of death, destruction, and famine. She said the government remains committed to providing opportunities for students who can study and succeed in Britain while addressing the human costs of war.

The evacuation of students is part of a wider set of humanitarian moves that the UK has pursued in recent days. Earlier this week, a group of severely ill children from Gaza was brought to Britain for urgent NHS treatment, highlighting the ongoing effort to provide life-saving care alongside longer-term educational opportunities. Analysts and advocates have said the flotilla of visa checks, travel arrangements, and welfare support for Gaza students reflects a complex, multi-faceted approach to aid that must continue amid the ongoing conflict. As the war enters its second year, the UK government maintains that education remains a critical pathway for Gaza’s youth and a symbol of international solidarity, while officials work to expand access to full, safe participation for students who come from Gaza and other conflict zones.

Since the war began on 7 October 2023 in response to Hamas’s attacks, the toll in Gaza has been staggering, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting that tens of thousands have been killed and the humanitarian situation has deteriorated rapidly. Israel’s military operations, coupled with the collapse of essential services, have disrupted schooling and daily life for countless families. In London and across the UK, educators, politicians, and human rights advocates have underscored the importance of keeping education open for Gaza’s student population and ensuring that these young people can pursue their studies without adding to the trauma their families already endure. As the next wave of evacuations proceeds, UK universities have pledged ongoing support for students’ wellbeing, integration, and academic success, recognizing that education can offer a pathway to stability even in the midst of conflict.