Gazan students granted approval to study in the UK

The government has agreed to allow Gazan students to come to the UK on university scholarships in the next few weeks – but with some caveats.

The students are set to come to the UK through a variety of schemes, including the mostly government-funded Chevening Scheme for international master’s degree students to study for a year in the UK. Nine Gazan students will enter the UK through this scheme.

There is, however, a major caveat to this news. Israel will need to agree to each student leaving the territory that it currently occupies.

If Israel grants approval for the students to leave, there will be considerable difficulties in evacuating them from a war zone

This may prove to be very difficult, especially considering that the UK government has promised to recognise a Palestinian state in September if Israel does not meet certain conditions, such as committing to “long-term sustainable peace and a two-state solution”. This has soured UK relations with Israel.

No students have left Gaza to study in the UK since 2023, and the recent decision by the government has been preceded by much campaigning by politicians and academics alike to let over 80 students from Palestine into the UK, including the 40 on schemes.

If Israel grants approval for the students to leave, there will be considerable difficulties in evacuating them from a war zone, and they will be taken to a third country for visa biometric checks before coming to the UK.

Students have told the BBC that they will find it difficult to leave their loved ones behind in an active warzone, and that they fear their families could be killed before being evacuated.

Israel does not let any Palestinians leave the warzone without their consent and diplomatic assistance

This news comes alongside plans in which the UK government has pledged to work with the World Health Organisation to evacuate critically ill and injured children from Gaza in the coming weeks.

The death toll in Gaza is continually worsening as Israel continues what is increasingly being considered a genocide of over 60,000 Palestinians.

Israel does not let any Palestinians leave the warzone without their consent and diplomatic assistance. This will apply to and impact those young people on student schemes.