US: Scholarships for Gaza: Famous names rally to send Palestinian students to UK universities.

SHOTLIST: UK (JULY 31, 2026) 1. SOUNDBITE (English) 26-YEAR-OLD GRAPHIC DESIGNER LIVING IN TENT IN GAZA, HEBA ABAID SAYING: "I received an offer to study for a Master's degree in Design Management at Lancaster University in the UK. Receiving that offer reminded me that trees can survive even during a genocide. It gave me hope that all the hard work I had done under impossible circumstances had not been in vain. Unfortunately, being accepted is only the first step. I cannot afford the tuition fees or the cost of living in the UK, and without a full scholarship, I will not be able to take up my place there. That is why the fundraising efforts organized by Phoenix Space mean so much to me and to all students here in Gaza. They are giving students from Gaza the opportunity to continue their studies. As a graphic designer, I have always believed that art and design can do so much more than just create beautiful images. They can tell powerful stories, inspire people, and give a voice to those who are not being heard—like us, the Palestinian people.” 2. SOUNDBITE (English) ACTRESS JULIET STEVENSON SAYING: "So the story is around how hard it has been for these students to achieve these places, and they've done it entirely on on incredible hard work and on their intellectual academic merit. There is no no charity here. It's all done on their own on their own merits. So, but the British government has said they they can take these places up only if they come with fully funded scholarships. That's a very tough demand of these students because how are they supposed to get this money? There are no jobs in in Gaza to speak of. The cost of living is incredibly high, as we know. The cost of food is crazily high. There is no way they can earn money or save money. People are just trying to survive. There's a lot of money in this country, and there are a lot of people I think who would like to help, whatever their political beliefs. I think just to recognize the achievement of these students and help them to to get to these universities and achieve their academic dreams."UK - JULY 31, 2026: For Heba Abaid, a 26-year-old graphic designer living in a tent in Gaza, an offer for a master’s degree in Design Management at Lancaster University gave her something to hold onto amid the devastation of war. "I received an offer to study for a Master's degree in Design Management at Lancaster University in the UK... Receiving that offer reminded me that trees can survive even during a genocide," she told Anadolu in a Zoom interview. Yet, securing a place is only half the battle. The UK government requires foreign students from Gaza to have fully funded scholarships. In response, education charity Phoenix Space launched Scholarships for Gaza, a 10-day auction where more than 20 public figures are selling personal items to bridge this gap. - ‘There is no charity here’ Among the central figures is actress Juliet Stevenson, who points directly to British foreign policy and a moral obligation to act. "You know, our government has colluded in this genocide ... Keir Starmer's government went on sending arms to Israel, and so we have contributed to this mass murder," Stevenson told Anadolu. She highlighted the extraordinary, life-risking efforts Gazan students have made simply to submit their university applications. "There are thousands of young people in Gaza who have been desperately trying to, you know, continue their studies against overwhelming odds, all the universities were destroyed," she said. "There are stories of students desperately trying to find a Wi-Fi signal... scrambling up onto some high point to get Wi-Fi for a few minutes, and risking their lives by being shot down by a drone or by Israeli fire," Stevenson said. "They have done it entirely on incredible hard work and on their intellectual academic merit. There is no charity here. It's all done on their own merits." - What the celebrities are donating Donations reflect personal histories. Gary Lineker offered a signed football shirt from Japan, while Maxine Peake donated a production hoodie. Stevenson initially gave a poetry book from her own school days: "I had a very precious book about poetry, which I had kept. It had been given to me as a school prize for Latin... And poetry is my first love. It was reading a poem that made me want to be an actress in the first place." She also added a second lot to raise further funds: "I'm also donating a second item, which is I'm offering one hour on Zoom, a Zoom conversation for an hour with anybody who bids for it." Addressing the broader political context, Stevenson said newly elected UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham must back his words with action. "Words are easy, but he (Burnham) has to turn it into action... the first thing to do is to stop selling arms, and then put as much pressure as pos