Kathmandu— Mariam al-Najar, a 24-year-old student from Khan Younis in Gaza, has been accepted into the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in Italy for a master’s degree in economics and management. However, travel restrictions imposed by Israel have trapped her in Gaza, jeopardizing her opportunity to pursue higher education abroad.

Scholarship Offered Hope

Mariam's acceptance into the Italian university was a moment of hope amidst years of despair. The scholarship not only offered an educational opportunity but also represented a potential new future amid ongoing challenges in Gaza. Mariam described her acceptance as 'a ray of light that suddenly appeared and gave me a sense of life and hope again.'

Bureaucratic Hurdles

Despite securing the scholarship, Mariam faces significant bureaucratic hurdles to leave Gaza. She has applied for a visa and contacted several organizations for assistance but remains unable to secure permission from Israel to travel. Professor Giovanna Citti from the University of Bologna highlighted that 'the main obstacle facing Palestinian students from Gaza is not obtaining university admission itself, but their ability to leave Gaza and complete the procedures required to reach Italy.'

Initiatives for Student Support

Organizations like Gaza40+ have emerged to support students in navigating these challenges. The initiative has helped over 120 students leave Gaza to continue their studies abroad, but the absence of a clear humanitarian pathway remains a significant obstacle. Nasser Taha from Gaza40+ emphasized that 'students are not losing opportunities because of their academic qualifications or their commitment. They are losing them because of circumstances beyond their control.'

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.