40 Gazan students to arrive in UK in coming weeks on fully funded university scholarships
Around 40 students from Gaza are set to arrive in the United Kingdom in the coming weeks on fully-funded university scholarships
The BBC has reported that nine students have been informed that they will be given assistance to leave Gaza in order to pursue scholarships under the Chevening scheme.
The Chevening scheme is a predominantly government-funded initiative for international students to study one-year master's degrees, the outlet writes.
The announcement of such news comes just a week after it was announced that the first group of critically ill and injured Palestinian children will be brought to the UK in the next 'coming weeks'.
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According to the BBC, the home secretary has likewise approved plans to help around 30 other individuals who have fully funded scholarships through other private schemes.
This group would be the first to have left Gaza to study in the UK since Israel launched a bombing campaign and invaded Gaza on 27 October 2023, pointing to alleged objectives of destroying Hamas and freeing Israeli hostages.
However, Israel must agree that each student can leave the territory.
The student will then be taken to a third country in the region for visa biometric checks before being brought to the UK.
A Home Office source has described the upcoming plan as 'complex and challenging', but said that the home secretary had made it 'crystal clear' that she wanted the students to take up their places in the UK.
In its latest cumulative reported impact snapshot, published last week, OCHA reports that as of 20 August, there have been 62,122 reported Palestinian fatalities.
There have also been 156,758 reported Palestinian injuries.
The 'man-made' famine due to Israel blocking humanitarian aid is dire, as 81 per cent of households reported poor food consumption (July), up from 33 per cent in April. 24 per cent of people experienced very severe hunger, with nearly 90 per cent using extreme coping methods.
One of Israel's latest attacks was a bombing of a main hospital in southern Gaza on Monday (25 August).
Israel then struck the same spot again 15 minutes later as rescuers and journalists rushed to help the wounded. The bomb killed at least 20 people, including five journalists, health officials said.
Live videos have captured the moments leading up to the killings, showing civil defence workers wearing bright orange vests and journalists raising their hands to shield themselves seconds before the second bomb lands.
Another video shows the tragic aftermath of the bombings, with the bodies of the first responders and journalists seen lying on top of one another, covered in blood and dust.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel 'deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred today at the Nasser Hospital in Gaza', adding that they 'value the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians'.
The statement also said that the military was conducting a 'thorough investigation' (via the BBC).
What is being referred to as a 'double tap' strike and the killing of journalists has sparked a wave of international condemnation against the nation, with many hitting out at the attack on the Gaza hospital, such as UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, President Donald Trump, and French President Emmanuel Macron (as per The Guardian).
To donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians, which works for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees, you can visit its website.
Rhiannon Ingle