Palestinian Stipendium Hungaricum students cry out for help as they face losing their scholarships without Hungary’s support

One of our readers—and a proud recipient of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship—has shared a heartfelt letter describing the difficult circumstances faced by his fellow students and himself. Below, you can read his unedited message in full.

My name is Ibrahim Alghorane, and I am one of 25 Palestinian students from Gaza who have been awarded the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship to study at various universities across Hungary.

Among us, 9 students were accepted for the 2024/2025 academic year, but due to the war, they had to defer their studies for one year. Unfortunately, they have now reached the deferral limit, and they are at serious risk of losing their scholarships permanently if they are unable to travel soon. We represent different academic levels — bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD — in vital fields such as medicine, engineering, and others. For all of us, this scholarship is more than just an educational opportunity. It is a lifeline, a path to peace, and a symbol of hope after years of hardship.

• Palestinians slam Hungary’s withdrawal from ICC as Hamas issues strong condemnation

Since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, the situation has become catastrophic. Much of the infrastructure has been destroyed. Schools and universities have stopped operating. Most of the population has been displaced. Electricity is nearly unavailable, clean water is scarce, and the threat of violence is constant. Daily life has become a struggle for survival.

Most of us study by candlelight or small flashlights, with the sound of drones and bombings in the background. Some of us have lost our homes, others have lost family members. Yet we hold on to our books and dreams — because education is not a luxury for us; it is a form of survival and resistance. Despite being fully funded by the Hungarian government and having official university admissions, we are still trapped in Gaza, with no safe way to leave. The border crossings are closed to students, and no evacuation mechanism exists for us.

We have already reached out to several Hungarian institutions and authorities, including those responsible for the Stipendium Hungaricum program, in the hope of finding a solution — but so far, we are still waiting for concrete action. It is heartbreaking to work so hard to earn a scholarship, only to be denied the chance to use it — not because of anything we did wrong, but simply because of where we were born.

• Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People commemorated in Budapest – PHOTOS

What makes it even more painful is that many other European countries, not only Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Ireland, have already successfully evacuated their students from Gaza. These evacuations were coordinated with Israeli authorities, and the students later completed their visa procedures at embassies in Cairo or Amman.

We hope similar humanitarian coordination can be achieved with the Hungarian side to help us reach our universities. We are not asking for financial support — we are fully prepared to cover our travel, accommodation, and visa expenses ourselves. What we truly need is authorization to leave Gaza and a safe corridor — a basic human right. Hungary has always stood out in Europe for its deep commitment to education and international cooperation.