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Majd and Israa’s Journey from Gaza to Liverpool with the Support of the Qaddumi Foundation
October 9, 2025

Majd Hamdan and Israa Al-Taweel from Gaza were awarded the Qaddumi Foundation’s master’s degree scholarships. Majd will pursue a Master’s in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and Systems (Engineering) at the University of Liverpool, while Israa will undertake a Master’s in Building Information Modelling and Digital Information at the same university.

I walked for an hour and a half trying to find a café with a stable internet connection so I can take the language exam!

Their arrival in Liverpool came after a long and painful journey marked by immense hardship. The scholarship application process itself was extremely challenging. Even the simplest requirements, such as sitting for a language test or uploading application documents, became major obstacles due to frequent electricity cuts and internet disruptions.

Israa first applied for the scholarship in 2024 but was unable to complete the language tests because of internet outages. She was forced to walk for an hour and a half to a café in hopes of finding a stable connection to take the Duolingo test, especially as the IELTS is no longer an option for students in Gaza due to its requirement for continuous internet access.

Majd was awarded the scholarship in 2024, yet he was unable to leave Gaza until September 2025, along with 33 other students. His application journey was filled with challenges. Due to power shortages, he had to write his personal statement by hand because he could not charge his laptop; it took him three days before he was finally able to type it. Recording the introductory video was another struggle; he had to film during daylight hours to rely on sunlight, while trying to avoid the constant background noise. He was also forced to resit the language exam twice because of repeated electricity and internet outages.

Although Majd and Israa left Gaza at different times, the complexity of their circumstances was similar. Israa waited for two years, applying and waiting for the moment of departure. Even after receiving her scholarship and visa, she did not receive any notification about her travel date. When she finally received the email from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirming her travel details, she described that day as “unforgettable.”
Majd, on the other hand, was contacted only five hours before the assembly time. When they arrived at the departure point, the scene was chaotic: students, buses, and drivers were present, yet without any representative from an international organization or accompanying staff. He described the situation by saying, “The destruction was one ordeal, and the evacuation journey was another.”
All students were asked to leave behind their belongings, mobile phones, and money. Although the meeting time was set for 3:00 a.m., they were forced to wait for eight hours without any means of communication to check on their families.
Israa also faced great difficulty reaching the meeting point due to widespread destruction, in addition to waiting for five hours before the group was finally allowed to move.
After arriving in Liverpool following an exhausting journey filled with challenges, Majd said, “Liverpool is a culturally vibrant city. You can feel a sense of warmth and belonging. I spend my days studying, attending lectures, and trying to make new friends. During the war, I was unable to attend any courses or training due to electricity and internet outages. I look forward to starting my master’s degree, which represents a real opportunity for my professional development.” When asked about his choice of specialization, Majd added,
The industrial sector in Gaza was weak even before the aggression and has now become almost nonexistent. Rebuilding it will require advanced manufacturing systems and new tools, and that is why I chose this field of study.

Still finding her way in her new life, Israa said, “It has only been one month since I arrived in Liverpool, and I am still in the process of getting to know the city and building a new routine between university life, studying, and gradually discovering a new place. At this stage, I am focusing on excellence and self-development in my career. Returning to Gaza remains a possibility, but it is uncertain given the ongoing escalation of circumstances there.”