40 Gazan students have full scholarships to study at UK universities, but are being held back by inaction by the UK government.

The Gaza 40 campaign writes:

At least 40 exceptional students are trapped in Gaza despite having earned full scholarships to study at UK universities. With the only Visa Application Centre in Gaza being shut down, the largest barrier between these students and the futures they have worked tirelessly for is the biometric requirement for visas.

The UK government exclusively holds the power to bring these students to the UK safely, and we call on them to follow in the footsteps of governments such as those of Ireland, France and Australia in doing so.

We ask the UK Home Office to take one of the following actions for each student IN FULL:

• Excuse the biometric requirement, grant student visas and facilitate their safe passage to the UK, where further biometric processing can be done safely.
• Predetermine their visa application, provide a biometric deferral, and facilitate their evacuation to a neighbouring country to complete their visa process, with a guaranteed visa and safe onward travel to the UK.

Sign the petition to show the UK government that we support these students taking up their rightful places at our universities. Let them study. Let them live. Justice for the Gaza40.

Sign the campaign’s petition here.

Find out more about the campaign here.

Posted 15 August 2025