Pakistan set to welcome first batch of Gaza medical students

The Pakistani embassy in Cairo announced that 27 Palestinian students from Gaza departed for Pakistan on Sunday to complete their studies, which had been interrupted since the start of the Israeli military offensive on October 7.

In a statement released on Sunday, the Pakistani embassy said, “This batch of students is part of 192 Palestinian medical students from war-torn Gaza who will continue their medical and dental studies in various medical institutes in Pakistan.”

According to the embassy, Al-Khidmat Foundation facilitated the arrangements for the students' departure from Cairo to Lahore.

Under the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, these students will be provided the opportunity to continue their medical and dental education at Pakistani universities through fully funded programs.

Gaza has the lowest illiteracy rate in Palestine, and students rely heavily on scholarships to access world-class education outside the besieged enclave.

However, the Israeli onslaught has destroyed nearly all educational institutions.

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have bombed all 12 universities in Gaza, turning the enclave into ruins.

The Global Education Cluster revealed through satellite imagery that 92.9 percent schools in Gaza have suffered "some level of damage."

On October 10, UN investigators accused Israel of deliberately targeting hospitals, ambulances, and medical professionals in Gaza under the pretext of attacking Hamas militants.

The overall Palestinian death toll since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza has reached at least 42,979 with more than 98,464 wounded. Thousands more remain trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.