.svg)
Dozens of promising Palestinian students, many of whom have overcome unimaginable adversity in a war-torn Gaza, are being denied their hard-won places at UK universities. Despite securing scholarship offers and unconditional acceptance letters, these students are unable to travel to the UK due to a rigid bureaucratic roadblock: the requirement to submit biometric information.
The situation is particularly dire as the only authorized biometric center in Gaza was closed in October 2023. The UK Home Office's insistence on this requirement has created an impossible, Kafkaesque barrier, effectively extinguishing the hope that these young people fought so hard to achieve. Countries like Ireland and Italy have waived similar requirements in favor of online visas, a measure the UK Government has so far refused to implement.
This policy affects over 80 Gazan students, a significant number of whom have secured full scholarships. Among them is Soha Abu Eid, a 31-year-old midwife who applied for a nursing Ph.D. at Ulster University. Soha's application was a tribute to her friend and colleague, Fatima, who was killed in the conflict. Soha, who has lost 20kg since October 7, wrote her application from a tent in the Nuseirat refugee camp, using a 2G internet connection.
"My main goal right now is to survive," Soha shared. "I lost my friend, Fatima, who was killed back in November 2023. She was doing a midwife Ph.D. I thought, 'I need to complete her dream... The end goal is rebuilding the health care system.'"
Soha's joyous celebration of her scholarship offer was short-lived. Her hope has been replaced by the fear that her opportunity will expire and that she may not survive to see another year.
The UK Government's Unimplemented Plans
While a government spokesperson has stated that they are "aware of these students and are considering how we can best support," and that they are "doing everything we can to find a solution," concrete action remains elusive. In October 2024, in response to a judicial review, the Home Office did revise its guidance to make it clear that the Home Secretary has the discretion to be more flexible when considering requests to pre-determine an application, or excuse or defer the biometric requirement. However, this policy change has not resulted in a functioning pathway for the students.
This is in stark contrast to the UK's swift action in 2022, when it waived biometrics for Ukrainian passport holders under the Ukraine Family Scheme, allowing online applications and biometrics after arrival. The precedent exists, but it has not been applied to the desperate students in Gaza.
More recently, over 100 MPs from across various political parties have signed a letter, led by Labour MPs Abtisam Mohamed and Barry Gardiner, urging the government to defer the biometric checks. They propose allowing the students safe passage out of Gaza to neighboring countries like Jordan or Egypt, where the biometrics could then be completed. This would allow the students to take up their university places in the UK without compromising national security, as the checks would still be performed.
However, the UK government's position remains a point of contention. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has argued that biometric checks are an "essential part of our security arrangements" and should not be deferred. This has created a stalemate, leaving the students with a glimmer of hope that fades with each passing day.
The international community and academic institutions continue to pressure the government to find a humane solution, highlighting that these students represent the future of Gaza and its eventual reconstruction. Their success would not only honor their resilience but also provide the critical skills needed to rebuild a devastated society.
