**Trapped in Gaza: A Palestinian Student’s Plea for a UK Visa**
Haia Mohammed, a 22-year-old Palestinian student, is stuck in the Gaza Strip despite being awarded a scholarship to study at Goldsmiths University of London. She is one of four students from Gaza who are struggling to obtain study visas due to the biometric data requirements by the Home Office.
Mohammed’s story is a heartbreaking example of the difficulties faced by Palestinians trying to access education and opportunities abroad. Despite graduating with 95% from her school, Mohammed was unable to continue her studies online due to the destruction of her university during the war. She had to resort to learning on Zoom, but the specialist computer required for her course was destroyed, leaving her without a way to progress.
Mohammed’s passion is poetry, and she writes about the struggles faced by her people in Gaza. “People see me now through Gaza’s eyes,” she says. “They don’t see Haia in me; they see Gaza within me.” Her words are a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the importance of education as a means of survival.
**A Plea from MPs**
The British public, including 113 MPs who signed a letter in support of Mohammed and her fellow students, have shown solidarity with their plight. However, the Home Office has yet to find a solution, citing the “extremely challenging” situation on the ground in Gaza.
MPs are calling for biometric checks to be deferred or conducted in neighboring countries like Jordan or Egypt, where conditions are safer. Brent West MP said that allowing biometric checks in these countries would not compromise national security but would allow students like Mohammed to continue their education.
**A University’s Commitment**
Goldsmiths University of London has pledged to support Palestinian students once they arrive at the university. However, until then, Mohammed and her fellow students remain trapped in Gaza, unable to pursue their dreams due to bureaucratic hurdles.
As one volunteer for the UK Coalition for Gaza Students, Nora Parr, pointed out, university applications submitted by these students were done “under dire circumstances.” The British government’s response is long overdue, and it’s time for them to work with Israeli officials to facilitate students’ exits from Gaza.
**A Call to Action**
The story of Haia Mohammed and her fellow students serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the importance of education. It’s high time for the British government to take action and find a solution that allows these talented individuals to pursue their dreams without being held back by bureaucratic hurdles.
As Mohammed herself said, “For me and my community, it’s about how to tell our story, how to communicate to the world, and how poetry can help us survive.” Let us hope that the British government will listen and act soon.
