In brief
In a significant development, 34 students from Gaza have been evacuated to the UK for their studies, marking the first instance of such assistance since the onset of conflict. The group includes medical professionals, and all have secured fully funded scholarships. They are currently undergoing visa checks in a third country before proceeding to their university placements. The evacuation is part of ongoing efforts to support other vulnerable students still trapped in Gaza amid escalating violence.
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.
It is the first time since the conflict began that people have been helped to leave the Strip in order to study in the UK.
They are now in a third country in the region for visa biometric checks before completing their journey to the UK.
All 34 have fully funded scholarships and have received support from the UK government to leave Gaza.
The group, which includes at least four medical doctors, were assisted in leaving the Strip on Wednesday. They are expected to be brought to the UK early next week to take up their university places.
One of the students who has been evacuated told the BBC that they are tired but well. They described the last 48 hours as very intense and said that it had been challenging to leave behind family members and other students still awaiting evacuation.
The group includes scholars under the Chevening Scholarship, a mostly government-funded scheme for international students to study a one-year master's degree in the UK.
The evacuation follows months of campaigning by politicians, academics, and others on behalf of more than 100 Palestinian students holding offers from UK universities this year.
It remains unclear when the next group of eligible students might be evacuated.
Dr. Nora Parr, a University of Birmingham researcher, stated that we remain hopeful that the UK government will support all eligible students to be evacuated and are aware of at least 35 students with full scholarships who are still trapped in Gaza.
She added: We are concerned about students with dependents. Four mothers and one father had to decline their places on this week's evacuation as they would not leave their children behind.
Earlier this week, a group of severely ill children arrived in the UK from Gaza for urgent NHS specialist medical care.
Israel launched a major ground offensive on Gaza City on Tuesday, with significant civilian casualties reported.
