The Sunday Mail has highlighted Shaymaa’s case who has a fully funded scholarship for a PhD in English Literature at Edinburgh University.
Gaza student Shaymaa(Image: UGC)
THE Israeli government is facing demands to allow students trapped in Gaza who have won places at Scottish universities to travel to the UK.
The Sunday Mail has highlighted the case of , 32, who has a fully funded scholarship for a PhD in English Literature at Edinburgh University.
She is among around 40 students due to study in Scotland and 102 across the UK.
Shaymaa, who taught at the Islamic University of Gaza until it was bombed early in the war, told the Sunday Mail: “We still don’t have any updates regarding evacuation.
“We are just anxiously waiting for confirmation from the government that we will be evacuated on a specific date.
“I’m from east of Khan Yunis and we have been dis-placed in Al-Mawasi since May 19.
“Everyone in Gaza lives each moment as if it’s our last, our last moment on earth. We always feel like we could be the next target and at the same time we are waiting for a ceasefire.
“We’ve been living in this perpetual state of uncertainty for almost two years, it’s terrifying to have our feelings swinging between hope and dread thinking we could take our last breath at any minute.
“So this opportunity to study in Edinburgh for me is one of safety as well as of education. I welcome it and welcome becoming a genocide survivor.
“Studying in Edinburgh has been my lifelong dream. I can’t wait for that.
“Even under normal circumstances, I’d have been so eager to get to Edinburgh to start my PhD.
“You can only imagine what it would mean for me to start my education, despite everything. Despite the genocide, the war, the bureaucratic complexities.
“I just want to get to the place I’ve been dreaming about.”
Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour Justice spokesperson(Image: Getty Images)
Glasgow Labour MSP Pauline McNeill has been championing the students’ cause.
She said: “Israel must allow those students to travel to the UK to take up their studies. They deserve a good education.”
Shaymaa has been living in a tent with 11 family members for two years.
It is understood the students, who need approval from Israel, will travel to neighbouring Jordan before flying here.
The students, some of whom are due to take up PhD and Masters courses, have been told to take only a mobile phone, charger and a plastic bag with legal documents.
Those with dependents have been told they cannot bring their kids. The Scottish Government is holding daily briefings with universities. The UK Government held its first meeting with uni officials last week.
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said: “The Scottish Government will work to ensure every eligible Gazan student with the offer of a scholarship is able to get to Scotland, where they will be warmly welcomed.”
Christine Jardine
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The Sunday Mail raised Shaymaa’s plight with the UK Government and First Minister John Swinney, has said coming here will save her life. Edinburgh MP Christine Jardine said: “I’ll be putting pressure on the Government to make sure they deliver what they promised.”
The UK Government said students must go through biometric processing to be considered for a visa.
A spokesperson said: “We are working urgently to support students in Gaza who have offers to a British university with a full scholarship.
“But the situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.”