Four Durham University scholarship students trapped in Gaza
By Isla Mustin and Abigail Tobias
Four postgraduate students awarded full scholarships to study at Durham University remain trapped in Gaza due to travel restrictions and UK visa requirements, according to the Durham Palestine Educational Trust (DPET), which oversees the scholarships.
Labour MP for the City of Durham, Mary Kelly Foy, has written to the UK government urging it to introduce emergency measures that would allow the students to leave Gaza in time to begin their courses in Michaelmas term.
This comes as 70 MPs have called on the Government for the deferral of standard biometrics for Gazan students.
UK student visas usually require both fingerprints and facial photos which were processed at a UK authorised biometrics centre prior to the October 7th attack and Israel’s response.
In her letter, written after consultation with members of DPET, Foy explained that students from Gaza cannot currently meet the UK’s visa requirements, which require biometric data that cannot be provided inside the territory.
She described this as “an unfortunate alignment of Israeli government restrictions and UK government requirements” that has left the students stranded.
By comparison, several other European governments, including France, Spain, Ireland and Italy, have introduced more flexible immigration procedures, allowing biometric data to be processed after evacuation in a third country.
DPET executive members reported that one Gazan student was evacuated to France in May following intense coordination between the French consulate in Jerusalem and the Israeli government, with her visa later processed in Amman alongside around one hundred others.
More recently, DPET were informed that two Gazan students and eight others reached Dublin via Jordan, arriving “thin and exhausted”.
Foy emphasised that the “key to these possibilities is the willingness of governments to waive the requirements for biometric data until after they arrive in a third country”, alongside arrangements for safe passage for students out of Gaza.
She urged the UK to adopt a similar scheme, noting that 40 students from Gaza are awaiting permission to travel to the UK, including four offered Durham University scholarships.
Her letter also highlighted the other severe restrictions facing the students: “They have been told that if they are evacuated they can only bring with them one plastic bag with essential papers. They are not allowed to bring clothing, toiletries or laptops.”
Chris Phillips has argued against the delaying of biometric tests citing the importance of the security measure. In a statement the Shadow Home Secretary told Sky News “We should not be deferring biometric checks. These are an essential part of our security arrangements, and they should not be waived or delayed until arrival in the UK – by which time it is too late.”
DPET has confirmed that it is ready to book flights to the UK for the students as soon as safe travel arrangements to Jordan are confirmed. The Trust is calling on the UK government to act quickly to ensure the students can arrive in Durham before the latest arrival date of September 28th.
Durham University has also made arrangements for pre-sessional courses and support settling in for any students who are able to arrive earlier.
Foy warned that without flexibility on visa procedures to facilitate travel for these students, the UK risks being seen as “an outlier among European states offering to help students from Gaza”.
Image: Seanna Barrett
