Help us support student writers from Gaza!

Over 80 Gazan students have full scholarships with UK universities. But students like Shaimma, who has a place at the University of Edinburgh, are waiting in limbo for the Home Office to approve biometric deferrals for their visa applications. 

They are unable to register their biometric applications as there are no functioning Visa Application Centres remaining in Gaza. Biometric deferrals have been granted for Ukrainian and Afghan nationals. Why not for Palestinians from Gaza?

We’re joining our friends Out-Spoken Press and the UK Coalition for Students in Gaza in calling for the UK government to allow Gazan students to take their places in UK universities this autumn.

We ask you to write to your MP using the template in our bio, urging them to allow biometric deferrals for Gazan students.

This is especially helpful if your MP is one of the following:

Dame Angela Eagle MP - Wallasey, Liverpool

Dame Diana Johnson MP - Hull North

Dan Jarvis MP - Barnsley North

Jess Phillips MP - Birmingham Yardley

Lord Hanson of Flint - House of Lords

Seema Malhotra MP - Feltham and Heston

You can use the template email here.

Shaimaa says: “Studying in the UK is not just an opportunity to continue my studies, it will also be a way to reclaim my future as a scholar and researcher. It’s about a continuation of my life’s work and my life’s research. I think of it as my opportunity to bring more attention to Palestinian literature. It would give me space, mentorship, and access to resources within the intellectual community. It’s what I need to grow as a writer, as a researcher, as a scholar. It would be a lifeline.”

Alongside her studies, Shaimaa had planned to join us at Comma Press as an intern, helping to develop our series of Arabic genre fiction in translation.