Shaymaa has a fully funded scholarship for a PhD in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh.
Pressure from the Scottish and UK Government is mounting on the Israeli Government to allow students, such as Shaymaa to travel to the UK, The Sunday Mail reports.
Shaymaa, who taught at the Islamic University of Gaza until it was bombed early on in the conflict, told The Sunday Mail: “We still don’t have any updates regarding evacuation.
“We are just anxiously waiting for confirmation from the government that we will be evacuated on a specific date.
“I’m from east of Khan Yunis, and we have been displaced in Al-Mawasi since May 19.
“Everyone in Gaza lives each moment as if it’s our last, our last moment on earth. We always feel like we could be the next target and at the same time we are waiting for a ceasefire.
“We’ve been living in this perpetual state of uncertainty for almost two years, it’s terrifying to have our feelings swinging between hope and dread thinking we could take our last breath at any minute”.
She continued: “This opportunity to study in Edinburgh for me is one of safety as well as of education. I welcome it and welcome becoming a genocide survivor.
“Studying in Edinburgh has been my lifelong dream. I can’t wait for that.
“Even under normal circumstances, I’d have been so eager to get to Edinburgh to start my PhD.
“You can only imagine what it would mean for me to start my education, despite everything. Despite the genocide, the war, the bureaucratic complexities.
Shaymaa has been living in a tent with 11 family members for the past two years. She told The Sunday Mail: ““I just want to get to the place I’ve been dreaming about.”
Glasgow Labour MSP Pauline McNeill has been fighting for Shaymaa, and other prospective students in parliament.
She said: “Israel must allow those students to travel to the UK to take up their studies. They deserve a good education.”
It is understood that the students wating to begin their studies, who need approval from the Israeli Government, will need to travel to neighbouring Jordan before flying to the UK.
These students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, have been told bring only a mobile phone, charger and a plastic bag with legal documents.
Those with dependents have been told they can’t bring their children.
The Scottish Government is holding daily briefings with universities regarding the matter and the UK Government held its first meeting with university officials last week.
Education Secretary, Jenny Gilruth, said: “The Scottish Government will work to ensure every eligible Gazam student with the offer of a scholarship is able to get to Scotland, where they will be warmly welcomed.”
The Sunday Mail reached out to the UK Government and First Minister John Swinney regarding Shaymaa’s hardship.
John Swinney responded saying that coming to here would save her life. Edinburgh MP Christine Jardine said: “I’ll be putting pressure on the Government to make sure they deliver what they promised.”
A spokesperson from the UK Government told The Sunday Mail ” We are working urgently to support students in Gaza who have offers to a British university with a full scholarship.
“But the situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.”
