In 2022, Bassem Abudagga received exciting news that he was awarded a British Council scholarship to pursue his PhD in Britain. He was filled with joy and pride, describing it as a dream for academics in Palestine to obtain a degree from the UK.
“It seemed like a pivotal moment for my professional journey, my aspirations, and my loved ones. It had the potential to drastically alter my opportunities.”
Filled with hope, Abudagga, a teacher of business studies at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, which was later devastated by Israeli bombing, came to this nation in October to begin his position at York St John University. His grant is one of several given every year as part of a prestigious program organized by the British Council to improve the capabilities of Palestinian universities. “This was a significant contribution by Britain to both myself and my country,” he states.
Unfortunately, Abudagga’s biggest disappointment was that he would have to spend extended periods of time away from his beloved wife, Marim, and their two children, four-year-old Karim and nine-year-old Talya. The entire family could have applied for visas to travel with Abudagga, but the British Council stated that they could only cover the expenses for him. While it would have been too costly for everyone to leave Gaza, they believed it would ultimately be beneficial in the future.
After approximately eighteen months, the initial feeling of satisfaction and enthusiasm has faded away for Abudagga and he is now in a desperate state. He deeply regrets his decision to come here and expresses his disappointment to the Observer. He fondly recalls feeling happy at the beginning, but now he is consumed by remorse, wishing he could be with his family during their current perilous situation.
Unfortunately, his wife and kids are currently confined in Gaza and are experiencing constant peril, enduring worsening living circumstances. He communicates with them daily through faulty phone connections, receiving distressing updates on the lack of basic necessities such as food and water, rampant sickness, incessant bombings, devastation, and the people they know who have been lost.
If that is not painful enough, Abudagga faces another unequal challenge: confronting the same UK authorities that were so keen to welcome him here just two years ago, in the hope of persuading them to help him bring his family to safety.
He has been informed multiple times by the authorities that in order to begin the process of applying for a visa, his wife must first have her fingerprints taken in Gaza and complete the required paperwork. However, the issue is that there are no facilities available in Gaza for fingerprinting, and there is no communication system or assistance in place to help with this task. As a result, it is not possible to finish this initial step before being able to travel to Egypt to complete the rest of the visa application process.
According to a British source, some families and individuals with UK relatives are successfully leaving the country. This raises questions about the role of UK visa policies in the situation involving Palestinians.
Last year on October 7th, Marim contacted her husband from their house in Abasan, near Khan Younis, to inform him about the Hamas attacks that resulted in the death of over 1,300 Israelis. He remembers her saying, “We are currently in a warzone.” From that point on, he knew he had to take quick action to bring his family to safety in the UK, as they were eligible to be with him there. He was filled with fear and worry.
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In light of recent escalations and spread of Israeli attacks, Marim and her two children have relocated a total of five times. Two weeks ago, Karim fell ill, and the task of securing proper medication was a harrowing ordeal.
At present, Marim, Talya, and Karim are residing in the European hospital, located in Khan Younis near Rafah. This town is at risk of being attacked by Israel. According to Abudagga, her son has been deeply affected by the incessant sound of carpet bombing and has become traumatized and depressed. She shares that whenever she calls them, she can hear the bombing in the background constantly. The hospital is the only safe haven where her son is unable to hear the bombings due its large size.
Rachael Maskell and Rebecca Long Bailey, two Labour MPs representing York Central and Salford and Eccles respectively, have both taken on the case of Abudagga, a part-time lecturer and resident in Salford and Eccles.
Maskell stated that the UK government invited Mr Abudagga to study in the UK through the British Council. As an academic, Mr Abudagga had the option for his family to join him during his stay. It is now their responsibility to ensure his family safely reunites with him.
Bailey urged the government to promptly implement a family reunion visa program for vulnerable families affected by this distressing situation.
A representative from the Foreign Office stated that the well-being of British citizens is of utmost importance. Over 300 British individuals and their family members have been assisted in departing from Gaza. Some individuals who are qualified to leave still remain, and we are collaborating with Israeli and Egyptian authorities to assist them in their departure.
The British Council has stated that it is providing urgent support for Abudagga’s situation.
Source: theguardian.com
