- Government supports high-achieving students from Gaza to take
up scholarships at UK universities
- Government is facilitating new evacuations for critically ill
children needing specialist NHS care
- Announcement is part of the UK Government's sustained
response to provide immediate support amidst the humanitarian
catastrophe and support the rebuilding of Palestinian society.
Young people in Gaza whose education has been disrupted by
conflict will be supported to study safely at top UK
universities.
The Foreign Secretary has outlined in a Written Ministerial
Statement to Parliament today that a group
of high-achieving students holding fully funded
scholarships and meeting the Immigration Rules will be
helped to leave Gaza to continue their studies in the UK.
They build on more than 100 fully funded scholarship students
that government supported to come to the UK this academic year,
ensuring talented young people and adults can
continue their education.
Foreign Secretary said:
The UK must continue to support students and injured children
from Palestine.
Talented young people from across Gaza must not be denied their
chance to study because of the horrendous conditions and
restrictions they still face. We will continue to run special
arrangements to help Chevening scholars and other students with
places at world-class UK universities to support the next
generation of Palestinian leaders. We're also helping some of the
most vulnerable children to leave Gaza and get expert medical
attention in the NHS, building on similar evacuations we
facilitated last year.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with continued restrictions
on aid flows, unsanitary conditions and inadequate access to
medical care. Hospitals are destroyed or only partially
functioning, and over 1000 Palestinians have reportedly been
killed since the ceasefire was announced. New international
energy is urgently needed to revive the 20-point peace plan and
pursue a two-state solution which delivers stability and peace to
Israelis and Palestinians alike."
The group includes a number of Chevening Scholars.
This prestigious programme, funded by the Foreign
Office, awards scholarships for fully-funded Masters studies to
individuals with leadership potential, helping to secure the
future of the next generation of Palestinian leaders.
The Statement also outlined new
evacuations of critically ill children, with
immediate family members, in need of specialist medical support
available in the UK following a pause due to the regional
conflict.
The humanitarian situation remains dire in Gaza, with many people
in urgent need of medical care. Most hospitals in Gaza are no
longerfullyfunctioning after nearly three years of war and many
key supplies remain scarce.
In 2025a cross-Government taskforce supported 50 sick and
injured children to leave Gaza with their immediate family
members and receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals
across the UK.
Education Secretary
said:
Behind every place is a person whose education has been
put on hold by this appalling conflict.
This Government is acting to help students from Gaza return to
learning in safety and stability. Restoring not just education,
but dignity and opportunity.
Education is a lifeline. It restores hope, unlocks potential, and
builds the foundations for the future. We will continue to
stand with those whose futures have been disrupted and do
everything we can to help them rebuild.
The UK has worked with the World Health Organization to identify
patients in urgent need and match them with specialist treatment
in the UK.
The government continues to press Israel to allow those who need
urgent medical care to leave Gaza temporarily for
treatment.
All those arriving in the UK will undergo security checks and
provide biometric information ahead of travel.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
-
Health Secretary and Social Care Secretary said:
No one can fail to be distressed by the devastating impact the
war has had on the children of Gaza. Every child deserves the
chance to heal, to play, to simply be able to dream again.
"These young patients have witnessed horrors no child should ever
see, but this marks the start of their journey towards recovery,
and reflects the very best of our NHS values - compassion, care
and expertise.
"This country proudly provides safe harbour to those in
need.
"I am proud the Government is giving medical support and a new
life to children suffering in Gaza."
- Universities with eligible
students will be contacted with further guidance on next
steps. Due to the complexity of the situation, timelines remain
uncertain and cannot be guaranteed.
- The government
will also support the evacuation of eligible
dependants of some students in line with the
Immigration Rules.
- Full eligibility criteria will be
published in due course
