Norwegian government approves student visas for Palestinian medical students amidst Gaza crisis

Ten young Palestinian medical students will now have the opportunity to continue their studies in Norway, thanks to a recent directive from the Norwegian government. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre highlighted that while this move may seem small, it carries significant symbolic weight in supporting these students amidst the catastrophic health situation in Gaza, where many hospitals are destroyed and healthcare workers have been killed.

The University of Oslo (UiO) had previously announced plans to host the students for a six-month exchange starting this autumn, intending to help them complete their medical education. This decision came after the ongoing conflict in Gaza devastated much of the infrastructure, including Al-Azhar University, where these students were enrolled.

Despite their eagerness to resume their studies, the students initially faced visa rejections from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), which expressed concerns that they may not return to Palestine after their semester. This decision surprised many, as the students had turned down offers from universities in other countries to accept the exchange at UiO.

Following a week of appeals from the university community and politicians, the government instructed UDI to approve student visas for the ten medical students. While it is uncommon for the government to intervene in such individual cases, they deemed this situation warranted special consideration based on foreign policy interests.

Støre confirmed that with the semester set to begin imminently, he is confident the students will make it to Norway in time, ensuring a safe arrival. However, their future studies are planned to continue in Cairo after this exchange period.