After US Criticism, Israel Ties Lebanon Withdrawal to Hezbollah Disarmament

Dozens of Gaza students who secured scholarships to Italian universities are still waiting to be evacuated, caught in a bureaucratic entanglement that leaves them in a dangerous conflict zone. While over 200 Palestinian students have successfully enrolled in Italian colleges through a government university corridor project initiated in 2025, a significant group remains behind.

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The state could resolve this situation very quickly. It is the state that should accelerate the process

Around 50 students are still awaiting the necessary clearance to depart the Israeli-occupied territory. This is despite meeting the same requirements as students who have already reached Italy. Non-governmental organizations highlight that most higher education institutions in Gaza have been destroyed, making these scholarships a critical lifeline.

Between September 2025 and June, 246 scholarship recipients from Gaza were evacuated to Italy and San Marino under Italy's "IUPALS" program. However, Anna Giada Altomare, founder of the Fiori dai Cannoni charity, which assists these students, confirmed that no evacuations have occurred since June 1.

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long waiting period, the uncertainty about the travel date, and the fear of losing an educational opportunity obtained after great effort

One male student, who wished to remain anonymous, described to AFP the "long waiting period, the uncertainty about the travel date, and the fear of losing an educational opportunity obtained after great effort." He believes the Italian state could expedite the process. The Italian foreign ministry responded that it is operating within an "extremely complex operational context" and that evacuation timelines are "outside the remit of Italian authorities," depending primarily on "decisions and authorisations of relevant foreign authorities." The Israeli foreign ministry has not yet provided a comment.

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I couldn't enrol in university (in Gaza) because the war started. Everything that I had been planning for disappeared

Students left behind report facing confusing evacuation criteria and bureaucratic hurdles. The young man hoping to study computer engineering expressed concern that his score on an Italian proficiency exam might be contributing to the delay. Meanwhile, students like Nada Abunada and Mohamed Arafat, who successfully reached Italy, shared their experiences of disrupted plans and the relief of escaping the war-torn territory to pursue their studies in economics and business administration, respectively.

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We were focused on surviving