Ministers have approved plans to help a further 30 students leave Gaza to take up places at UK universities next month but their evacuation remains uncertain and dependent on Israel’s approval.
It takes the total to 39, after a government commitment last week to work to secure the evacuation from Gaza of nine Chevening scholars with places at some of the UK’s leading universities.
Chevening scholarships are largely government funded and are offered to “exceptional individuals” to study for a one-year master’s degree at a UK university. All 40 students identified by the government have fully funded scholarships.
A Home Office source said it was “a complex and challenging task”. Names would have to be submitted to the Israeli authorities for approval, after which the students would travel to a third country, likely to be Jordan, for visa biometric checks, which are not currently available in Gaza.
Campaigners for the students welcomed the news, but expressed concern that the latest group had received no direct contact from the government or been given details of what might happen next, while others with full funding appeared not to have been included.
Dr Norah Parr, a researcher at the University of Birmingham who has been coordinating efforts to support the students, said: “We are relieved that the government has agreed to assist a larger group of students and ensure their arrival to the UK for the start of their autumn term, but we remain concerned about a lack of transparency or clear guidelines.
“At our last count, at least 53 students had full funding and support from UK universities. There may be more we are not aware of. As it stands, the news is causing further concern and anxiety. Who will be included and by what parameters will inclusion be determined?”
Soha, 31, who is due to start her PhD in the UK, said: “We were very excited to read the news and learn that there’s action and a plan for another 30 students, but we are really scared that it might not come through. We will not rest until every one of us receive the same news – not nine, not 30, but every one of us.”
Abtisam Mohamed, the Labour MP for Sheffield Central, has been among those urging the government to help evacuate the scholarship students, winning the backing of more 100 parliamentarians in a letter at the weekend.
“Stranded, many students feared that they would die under Israel’s bombs before being able to take up their university places,” she wrote on X. “Our message to the students was that they are not alone. And I’m relieved to share the news that the government will offer almost all funded scholarship students the same assistance with safe routes out of Gaza. This is the right decision.”
A Home Office source said: “This remains a complex and challenging task, but the home secretary has made it crystal clear to her officials that she wants no stone unturned in efforts to ensure there are arrangements in place to allow this cohort of talented students to take up their places at UK universities as soon as possible.”
