Gaza Students Win Study Abroad Offers, But Cannot Reach Universities
Mariam al-Najar, a 24-year-old student from Khan Younis in Gaza, recently received important news. She was offered a scholarship for a master’s degree in Italy. This news brought her great hope for a new future.
However, Mariam faces a major problem. She cannot leave Gaza to reach her university in Italy. Rules for travel out of Gaza are very strict. This makes her dream of higher education difficult to achieve.
Many students in Gaza share Mariam’s situation. They get accepted to universities abroad but cannot travel. Leaving Gaza and completing travel procedures is a big challenge. This is often harder than getting university admission itself.
Professor Giovanna Citti from the University of Bologna explained the difficulty. She said students need permission to leave Gaza. They often must travel through Israel and Jordan. Getting these exit permits is extremely hard.
The Israeli siege on Gaza has damaged the local education system. So, studying abroad offers a way forward for many students. Italy has been a popular choice. It costs less to live and study there compared to other European countries. Around 229 students left Gaza for study before May 2026. Another 40 students followed in June 2026.
Many students risk losing their scholarships. This happens if they cannot reach their universities by the deadline. The Gaza40+ initiative helps these students. It has over 1,200 registered students seeking help. More than 500 of them have received university offers from Europe.
Gaza40+ has helped 120 students and 20 family members leave Gaza so far. But a clear way to exit Gaza for universities abroad is still missing. This is a major challenge for Palestinian students.
Recently, Italy added a new rule. Students must show they can speak Italian before they can be considered for evacuation. This adds another barrier for students already facing many problems.
Nasser Taha from Gaza40+ said students are not losing chances because they are not smart enough. They are losing them due to conditions they cannot control. He called for better teamwork between governments, universities, and aid groups. This would help Gaza students reach their universities.
Doaa Fawzi Hamdan, another student, also waits for a visa to Italy. She said it is hard to get university acceptance but not know if you can go. Students simply want the same chance to study as students everywhere.
