UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2025

This campaign was founded by a group of  UK academics in 2024.  The initial focus of the campaign in 2024 was to call upon Government to extend the British Academy Researchers at Risk Scheme to Palestinian academics.  The aims and rationale of this were expressed in Early Day Motion 505 tabled by Caroline Lucas MP on 13 March 2024, signed by 21 MPs and supported by over 200 senior academics, including 105 Fellows of the British Academy (see Our supporters).  

The current campaign focus is on advocating to the UK Government that the many students from Gaza who have gained places to begin their studies at British Universities in 2025 should be allowed by the Home Office to enter the UK without the current impossibly restrictive visa requirements imposed by the UK Government, which effectively deny them entry. 

CAN YOU HELP US?

An letter from over 4800 university staff was sent to the Prime Minister and Home Secretary on 7th August, urging the government to facilitate safe passage out of Gaza for 40+ students with offers for UK universities. The full text and list of signatories is published on the British Institute for Middle East Studies website.

Following this up, there is now a Change.org petition that anyone can sign, and which has already gained more than 25,000 signatures.  Please add your name and circulate to colleagues and associates.

The students trapped in Gaza have an Instagram account, and a Linktree linking to other social media accounts that they are running about their campaign, as well as a template letter for people to send to their MPs. Please consider writing directly to your MP.