Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Gaza: Evacuation of UK Scholarship Students

Tuesday 2 September 2025 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Abtisam Mohamed raised concerns about UK scholarship students trapped in Gaza, specifically mentioning Yara.
  • Shockat Adam questioned the Secretary of State about efforts to ensure Palestinian children can access education and a bespoke visa system for UK study.
  • The Secretary of State acknowledged the plight of children in Gaza and the need to support students with educational opportunities in the UK.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Abtisam Mohamed Lab Sheffield Central
Foreign Affairs
Context

Chevening scholar Yara, a 24-year-old student from Gaza City with plans to study international law and global justice at the University of Sheffield, is among over 80 scholarship students trapped in Gaza due to displacement caused by Israel's bombardment.

Question

Yara is one of more than 80 scholarship students trapped in Gaza today, displaced again and again, with all her belongings packed into a small bag and ready to move at a moment’s notice. Can the Foreign Secretary guarantee that Yara and other students like her will not be left stranded and will be immediately evacuated by the Government in time for their courses to start this month?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for bringing Yara to the attention of the House. Of course we want to see bright students like her able to achieve their ambitions. We are reliant on Israeli permissions and on students having a full scholarship, but what I can do is ensure that the Minister for the Middle East meets my hon. Friend to discuss this case in detail.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not guarantee immediate evacuation, instead offered meeting to discuss Yara's case.

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Q2 Shockat Adam Ind Leicester South
Immigration Children & Families
Context

More than 660,000 Gazan children are being denied schooling for the third consecutive year due to Israeli bombardment which has destroyed more than 1,000 buildings in Gaza.

Question

What is the Secretary of State doing to ensure that the next generation of Palestinians can access education, alongside launching a bespoke visa system that enables students to come to study here in the UK? If not, why not?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr David Lammy)

The hon. Gentleman is right to raise with the House the plight of children in Gaza. Yesterday I mentioned my concerns about malnourished children and what that does for their educational outcomes. Yesterday he will have heard the Home Secretary and myself undertake to do more to support students with full scholarships to come to our country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to a bespoke visa system, instead referenced previous statement about supporting scholarship students.

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