Invest in Gaza’s Future Doctors
Osama Alsaadoni
For Palestinian students from Gaza, education is more than a personal goal—it is a lifeline for their communities. A significant number of Arab Student Aid International’s (ASAI) beneficiaries are medical students, young men and women determined to become physicians and return home as healers. But today, their futures hang in balance.
Osama Alsaadoni, a medical student and ASAI beneficiary, first began his journey with the organization by curating a video project to raise awareness about the impact of war on Gaza’s students. Now, he and his peers find themselves in urgent need of support. Forced to continue their studies in Egypt due to the ongoing war, these students face mounting tuition bills and the looming risk of losing their student visas.
At Zagazig University, where a group of these students are enrolled, the situation has become dire.
Tuition and Visa Status – Without payment of overdue and upcoming semester fees, the students could lose their legal status in Egypt. With Gaza’s borders closed, returning home is not an option, leaving them trapped in uncertainty—unable to study, work, or return.
Specialization and Training -Even graduation does not mark the end of their journey. To qualify as licensed physicians, they must complete their Imtiaz, a mandatory year of practical training. Without financial assistance, not only will their education be cut short, but years of study will be wasted and their ability to practice medicine permanently jeopardized.
“This is not just about tuition,” an ASAI representative emphasized. “It’s about safeguarding the future of Gaza’s healthcare system. These students represent hope—the doctors who will one day heal, rebuild, and restore their communities.”
The crisis underscores the urgent need for international solidarity. Support for Gaza’s students extends beyond classrooms; it is an investment in the resilience and recovery of a region that has long been denied stability.
