A group of 34 students in Gaza with places at British universities have been evacuated and are due to arrive in the UK within days.
This represents the first time since the conflict began that people have been helped to leave the Strip for educational purposes in the UK.
Currently, they are in a third country for visa biometric checks before completing their journey to the UK.
All who were evacuated have fully funded scholarships and have received support from the UK government to facilitate their departure from Gaza. The group, which includes at least four medical doctors, was assisted in leaving the Strip on Wednesday and is expected to arrive in the UK early next week to take up their university places.
One student reported to the BBC that while they were tired, they were in good spirits, calling the previous 48 hours very intense and noting the emotional difficulty of leaving family behind.
The cohort includes talented scholars under the Chevening Scholarship, a notable UK government initiative aimed at international students pursuing a one-year master's degree in the UK.
This evacuation follows persistent advocacy by various stakeholders, including politicians and academics, for over 100 Palestinian students holding offers from UK universities. However, uncertainty remains about future evacuations, with at least 35 more students with full scholarships still believed to be trapped in Gaza, some of whom cannot leave due to family obligations.
According to Dr. Nora Parr, a researcher at the University of Birmingham coordinating support for the students, efforts are ongoing to secure safe passage for all eligible individuals. Meanwhile, recent reports indicate that an increasing number of casualties have occurred amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, further emphasizing the need for urgent humanitarian aid and intervention.
