Trapped Palestinian students demand Gaza crossings reopen
Approximately 1,500 Palestinian students enrolled in foreign universities are stuck in Gaza, and are protesting for the reopening of the Rafah or Erez crossings.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The continuing closure of the Rafah crossing threatens the ability of Palestinian students to travel abroad to complete their studies. This has led to a student movement in Gaza calling for the need to open the Rafah crossing, or an alternative such as allowing them to cross the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing.
Mohib Izz al-Din, a 22-year-old student, is one of the trapped students. He managed to obtain a scholarship to study medicine in Ukraine, but the closure of the Rafah crossing has prevented him from moving forward with his studies.
“We understand that the security situation in the Sinai is difficult, but the Egyptian authorities need to understand our right to education and to have access to our universities. We do not pose any threat to Egyptian sovereignty and security,” Izz al-Din told Al-Monitor.
“I only have seven days left before my visa to Ukraine expires. After that, the cost of the ticket, which I collected from my relatives, will go up in smoke. In addition, the new academic year has begun at university, and I am not able to catch up, which will significantly affect my educational achievements,” he said.
