Visas for Students from Gaza
I welcome the collaborative work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Home Office to ensure that students from Gaza are able to secure their visas to study at UK institutions.
Gazan students who obtained their academic scholarship through Chevening, the FCDO-funded international scholarship programme, have had their visas expedited and are expected to start their courses soon. The Government has confirmed that this support will be extended to all Gazan students with full scholarships so that they can start their studies in autumn this year.
I am also pleased to see the Home Office confirm that, later this year, it will set out plans to establish a permanent framework for refugee students to come and study in the UK. This will allow us to help talented young people fleeing war and persecution to find a better future.
To be clear, I am outraged by the current situation in Gaza. We are witnessing a man-made famine in the 21st century, and I am appalled by the Israeli Government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza.
I know these words of condemnation are not enough, but I am glad this Government has acted where it can – restoring funding to UNRWA, suspending arms exports that could be used in Gaza, placing sanctions on violent settlers and far-right Israeli Ministers, and suspending trade negotiations with the Israeli Government. Alongside making these important decisions, the UK has provided more than £250 million in development assistance over the past two years.
The only way out of this situation is an immediate ceasefire that would see the release of all hostages held by Hamas and a transformation in the delivery of aid into Gaza. I am glad the Government is working together with our international partners to secure a ceasefire, as well as a wider political process to deliver long-term peace.