GAZA, November 8, 2024 (WAFA) - Dozens of students trapped in the Gaza Strip called upon educational and humanitarian organizations to take immediate action to resolve the crisis preventing them from traveling to resume their studies abroad.

For the past 13 months, students in the Gaza Strip have been unable to travel or enroll in universities abroad due to the Israeli blockade and ongoing conflict.

During a protest at the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, students emphasized that their educational prospects and academic futures are at serious risk. They warned that they could miss vital opportunities to pursue their studies if the crossings remain closed and travel is not facilitated soon.

In their appeal, the students called on all international institutions, human rights organizations and local and global media to highlight their plight, especially as the new academic year began several weeks ago. They urged for bringing attention to their struggle, as they remain unable to resume their studies due to the ongoing blockade and conflict​.

Before the onset of the Israeli military assault on Gaza, hundreds of students from the Strip were studying at universities in countries such as Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and several European countries, through official scholarships and academic programs. However, the escalation of the conflict has disrupted their ability to return to their studies, leaving them unable to continue their education abroad and significantly disrupting their academic pursuits and plans.

T.R.