Travel restrictions – from Israel and Europe – trap students in Gaza

Mariam al-Najar, a 24-year-old student from Khan Younis in Gaza, was waiting for a message that could change her life.When an email arrived two weeks after she applied for a scholarship from the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio in Italy, she felt, for a brief moment at least, that years of studying had finally paid off.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Is Israel’s Netanyahu preparing to fight Iran alone?list 2 of 3Eight countries denounce Israeli violations, attacks on healthcare in Gazalist 3 of 3Israel charges settler for killing Palestinian activist Awdah Hathaleenend of listThe university confirmed that she had been offered a place for a master’s degree in economics and management, one of the few times during a long period of despair that Mariam had felt any hope about the future.“Being accepted was like a ray of light that suddenly appeared and gave me a sense of life and hope again,” she told Al Jazeera. “I was applying for scholarships while feeling deeply hopeless and I never expected to receive an acceptance.”The scholarship offer was not just an opportunity for Mariam to continue higher studies at a leading university but also offered hope of a new fut...