Two Sisters from Gaza Receive Scholarships to Study in Valencia. Two Palestinian sisters from Gaza arrived in Valencia after a difficult evacuation. They secured scholarships and guest student status. Spanish universities and diplomats played a key role.
Two young Palestinian women from the Gaza Strip, Nariman and Roba Irhim, have arrived in Valencia after a multi-stage evacuation and received scholarships to study at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Their arrival was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of Spanish ministries, diplomatic services, and universities, as well as support from European and Middle Eastern partners. According to Spanish media, both young women were forced to leave their devastated city, where schools, universities, and hospitals have been destroyed due to constant shelling and the humanitarian crisis.
Nariman Irhim, 20 years old, spent several months trying to contact Spanish universities, sending letters and messages despite frequent power outages and communication disruptions. Ultimately, it was the Universitat Politècnica de València that responded to her request, and six months later, both sisters made it to Spain. They are now preparing for university entrance exams to continue their studies in engineering and information technology. Previously, Nariman studied cybersecurity at the Gaza University of Applied Sciences, and her sister Roba also achieved high academic results.
According to UPV representatives, both students were granted guest status and financial support, and their arrival was the result of complex bureaucratic and logistical efforts. In total, five students from Gaza—including four women and one man—were able to leave through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint, cross the West Bank, and reach Amman, from where they flew to Madrid. Two of them are now studying in Valencia, two others at the University of Jaén, and one in Santiago de Compostela. In December last year, a similar group of students was already admitted to Spanish universities, which confirms Spain’s ongoing support for Palestinian students.
UPV Rector José Capilla noted that not only Spanish and European bodies participated in the evacuation, but also the staff of the Israeli embassy, despite political disagreements between the countries. Permission to leave Gaza also required coordination with the local authorities. According to the Vice-Rector for Internationalization, the process was accompanied by significant emotional and administrative challenges. Nariman and Roba, who grew up in a family of doctors, emphasize that they want not only to survive but also to achieve their professional dreams, and their story has become a symbol of hope for Gaza’s youth.
The context of supporting vulnerable groups and educational initiatives in Spain is also confirmed by other examples. Recently, a team from Valencia carried out a large-scale medical mission in Tanzania, with special attention given to women and children — more details can be found in the article about the work of Spanish doctors in African villages. These projects highlight the role of Spanish universities and specialists in international humanitarian support.
For reference: Since 2023, the Gaza Strip has been experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis due to military actions and blockade. Spain is among the EU countries actively supporting educational and medical programs for residents of the region. The Universitat Politècnica de València and other Spanish universities regularly accept students from conflict zones, offering scholarships and assistance with adaptation.
