UNI'S MY GAZA LIFELINE

A PALESTINIAN woman who fears for her life in Gaza has pleaded with Keir Starmer to help her take up a place at Edinburgh University.

- BY HANNAH RODGER Political Editor

John Swinney has backed the 32-year-old's calls for the Prime Minister to open an emergency visa route and said he is "appalled" students are being prevented from reaching safety in Scotland.

Shaymaa, who is using only her first name due to safety concerns, is one of 10 Palestinians who have fully-funded courses in Scotland, out of 78 in total across the UK.

But they're stranded in Gaza and unable to leave due to visa processing problems, fearing for their lives every day and struggling to find basic shelter and food.

Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine and Edinburgh University have been lobbying the UK Government for months over the issue but fear time is running out as courses are due to start in a fortnight.

Shaymaa is still hoping to begin her English Literature PhD at Edinburgh University on September 1.

Speaking to the Sunday Mail from Gaza, the student and former lecturer issued a direct appeal to Starmer and said: "Education is the path to the future. It is one of the few remaining pathways to survival and dignity for Palestinians right now.

"The UK has an opportunity to offer practical, lifesaving solutions to students like me.

"I urge him to implement an emergency route for students and researchers from Gaza, including biometric deferral and safe passage, so we are not excluded from opportunities we have rightfully earned."

The UK Government said students have to go through biometric processing where their fingerprints and photos are recorded to be considered for a visa.

Normally, they would select their nearest processing centre but the facility in Gaza is closed and all routes out of the region are blocked due to the Israeli bombardment, leaving them with no way to complete the checks.