Pakistan decides to accept 100 Gaza medical students as Israel war enters 10th month
ISLAMABAD: As Israel’s war against the Palestinian people enters its 10th month, the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Wednesday announced its decision to allow around 100 medical students from the Gaza Strip to complete their education in the country.
PMDC, the statutory regulatory body overseeing medical and dental care in Pakistan, discussed the issue in a recent meeting following a request from the Pakistan High Commissioner in London to admit these students in medical colleges in the country.
Israel launched air and ground strikes and placed the Gaza Strip under siege after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, in response to the deteriorating situation for Palestinians under Israeli occupation.
So far, some 38,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the war, with many in the international community criticizing Israel’s “disproportionate response” and accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of committing “genocide”.
“The council’s decision will allow students from the Gaza Strip to continue their medical education in Pakistan on humanitarian grounds and ensure that their studies are not interrupted due to the difficult situation in their home countries,” the PMDC said in a statement.
“Students will arrive in groups of 20 to 30, and we expect there to be around 100 people,” he continued.
The PMDC argued that receiving medical education from Pakistan would bring many benefits to Palestinian students, which they would then take back to their home country and have an impact on their local communities and the entire healthcare system in Gaza.
“Exposure to various medical specialties during their education in Pakistan will allow students to pursue specific areas of interest,” the statement said. “Students will gain specialized skills in areas such as cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, pediatrics and surgery, addressing a critical need in Gaza’s healthcare system.”
Several international media outlets have reported extensive destruction of hospitals and universities in the Gaza Strip.
The World Health Organization and other sources have documented severe damage to medical facilities in the region, including the largest hospital, Al Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage from the ongoing conflict.
There have also been widespread reports of extensive damage to educational institutions, with reports of Palestinian scholars being deliberately targeted.
