On September 17, 34 students were evacuated from Gaza to the United Kingdom to begin their studies. Many of them had applied for their visas after I applied for mine. Yet, when I received the news of their exit, I felt joy and peace for them. They were finally safe and on their way to new beginnings. I kept my spirits up, believing that my turn would come soon. But when the next evacuation list arrived on September 29, the shock struck me with crushing force: there were 17 more names on it, but mine was not among them.I am not the only one facing this mystery. There are at least eight other students in Gaza that I know of who received prestigious scholarships to attend UK higher education institutions many months ago, but despite meeting the eligibility criteria announced by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), they have still not been listed for evacuation.Our fully funded scholarships at leading UK universities are now at risk – not because our institutions failed to advocate for us, but because of unexplained and inconsistent delays in the evacuation process. My programme at the University of Birmingham officially began on September 29. My place is fully secured, with tuition fees, living costs and accommodation already paid for through a Sanctuary Scholarship. Yet, I am still trapped in Gaza, waiting for confirm …
