Students leave Gaza to continue studies, others in limbo

What Happened

As of July 5, 2026, Palestinian students from Gaza are facing significant bureaucratic hurdles in securing exit permits to pursue higher education abroad. While some students have successfully reached the Netherlands via scholarships from the Gazan Student Support Network, 62 others remain in Gaza awaiting departure for Malaysia. These students are currently unable to leave because the Israeli military body COGAT has not responded to transit requests, a process complicated by the lack of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Israel. COGAT maintains that departures are subject to security screenings and third-country sponsorship, stating that nearly 50,000 residents have departed Gaza for various reasons since October 2023.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The inability of students to leave Gaza for education highlights the ongoing collapse of the territory's academic infrastructure, which UN experts have described as a 'systemic obliteration' or 'scholasticide.' With 95% of campuses damaged or destroyed as of November 2025, the loss of educational continuity for thousands of students represents a long-term socio-economic crisis for the region, even as some institutions attempt to resume limited operations.

Watch For

Monitor for potential diplomatic interventions regarding the 62 students awaiting transit to Malaysia and any updates from COGAT regarding the processing of exit permits for academic purposes. Additionally, track further reports from UN agencies on the status of Gaza's remaining educational infrastructure and the impact of ongoing conflict on student enrollment figures.