Joint Statement: UK Government inaction is jeopardising futures of ‘Gaza 40+’ university scholars
Statement from International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Global Legal Action Network, Campaign Against Arms Trade, Health Workers 4 Palestine, and War on Want
As UK organisations working on human rights, we urge the government to urgently facilitate the visa applications of over 40 students in Gaza who have been offered scholarships, but have been unable to get their applications processed due to not being able to provide their biometrics.
The 40-plus students have places across 30 British universities, and the cohort includes doctors, midwives and mental health professionals. They are currently unable to fulfil a Home Office requirement to provide their biometric data in order to travel, because the UK-authorised Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Gaza has been closed since October 2023, which is where biometric checks must be conducted. Israel’s blockade of Gaza means that these individuals are also unable to travel to centres in neighbouring countries to carry out their checks as part of their application requirements.
This Catch-22 means the scholars will be unable to travel to the UK to study, unless the UK government intervenes and grants them a biometrics deferral. The UK government is yet to take a decision on whether or not it will assist the students, or issue a response to their requests, despite the students’ months-long efforts to overcome the roadblock. This obstacle placed in-front of the students, through no fault of their own, jeopardises their professional development and the countless benefits that they would no doubt bring to Palestinians in Gaza – unless the UK government acts immediately.
The government must grant students a biometrics deferral and facilitate their safe passage to a third country to complete their biometrics for their visa application at a VAC, including through diplomatic pressure, if necessary, to ensure that the students can exit Gaza. The government must then facilitate safe passage for these students to the UK.
Precedent has been set for both these procedures in the most recent decision of the High Court of Justice on the 28th July in a similar case regarding family reunification. In that case, the Home Secretary deferred the biometric information requirement in April 2024 and considered the case regardless. Ultimately, in January 2025, the Home Secretary confirmed that “she was minded to grant the claimants entry clearance, subject to them attending a VAC to enrol their biometric information and satisfying security checks.” Additionally, the Court decided that the government was wrong in its assessment not to provide diplomatic support to the applicants in asking the Israeli authorities to evacuate their relatives to a third country.
It is absurd that the UK government has not waived the biometrics requirement despite being aware of the current situation on the ground in Gaza. To demand that applicants submit their biometrics without a biometrics centre available or functioning, is discriminatory against Palestinians; the government would be aware that there is no way to fulfil that requirement at the moment, and has failed to produce an alternative policy mechanism after over 22 months of these conditions. This is not an issue that is exclusive to these more than 40 students, it also extends to cover any other Palestinians in Gaza that wish to apply for a visa to come to the UK for any other purpose.
These students have been offered scholarships despite going through the most arduous of circumstances. They took tests, wrote essays and conducted interviews despite ongoing displacement and restriction of electricity and Wi-Fi. This is a testament to the resilience and strength of Palestinians, even when undergoing a live streamed genocide and being starved to death. It is unacceptable that after overcoming all of these hurdles, administrative red tape may prevent them from taking up their university places. They risk not only losing out on their scholarships, but may well be further traumatised, wounded, malnourished or killed by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and starvation policies.
In contrast to the UK, countries such as France, Ireland and Italy have successfully evacuated students through government co-ordinated efforts, via Embassies in Amman, Tel-Aviv, or Jerusalem, and through humanitarian corridors coordinated by organisations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Signatories:
International Centre of Justice for Palestinians
Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Global Legal Action Network
Campaign Against Arms Trade
Health Workers 4 Palestine
War on Want
ENDS
