LONDON — The UK government has confirmed a special arrangement to ensure dozens of students from Gaza can take up their university placements in Britain next month, despite the escalating regional and diplomatic tensions.
Under the plan, the students will undergo biometric checks in a third country before traveling onward to the UK. Permission from Israeli authorities will still be required for each departure from Gaza, a factor that continues to complicate the process.
The cohort includes approximately 40 students, nine of whom have been awarded prestigious Chevening scholarships. Funded primarily by the UK government, Chevening supports “emerging global leaders” pursuing one-year master’s programs at British universities. The remaining students have secured placements through a range of private and charitable scholarship schemes.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who signed off on the arrangements, described the task as “complex and challenging” but emphasized that she was determined to see every eligible student reach their destination. “No stone should be left unturned,” a ministry source echoed, noting the urgency of enabling the students to begin their studies on time.
The initiative comes in the wake of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent pledge that Britain would move to formally recognize a Palestinian state should Israel fail to meet conditions tied to ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. With the start of the academic year looming, the decision signals both humanitarian concern and diplomatic resolve amid one of the most fraught moments in UK–Israel relations in recent years.
