LIFE IN PALESTINE
Palestinians deserve to live life to the full, as we all do, yet military control dominates their lives in every sphere.
Medical training currently costs around £4,000—6,000 (GBP) per year
Source: our students' universities
DAY-TO-DAY LIVING
Despite recognition by the United Nations of the ‘State of Palestine’ in 2012, Palestinians continue to suffer under military occupation.
The widespread imposition of checkpoints, the appropriation of grazing land, olive groves and orchards, and the draining of the natural water supply — sold back to Palestinians at heavily marked up prices — cause daily suffering.
Livelihoods are routinely restricted by stringent import and export controls, and work permits may suddenly be cancelled without explanation. The Israeli military have the power to hold back ambulances and block entry to hospitals and universities. They control or influence almost every aspect of life in Palestine.
Many young Palestinians would like to expand their skill set or study for a profession, but are restricted
due to the various conditions linked to the military occupation.
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The Felt Sense of Occupation
Palestine has been under Israel’s military occupation since 1967. Most Palestinians have been born into this, never experiencing life as free citizens. Not only does this limit their freedom of movement internationally, but their freedom within Palestine too.
East Jerusalem, annexed in 1980 by Israel, is subject to domestic law. The rest of the West Bank and Gaza is ruled by a complex variety of military laws dating back through Jordanian and Egyptian rule (1948-1967), the British Mandate (1917-1948), and all the way back to Ottoman rule (1516-1917). Obviously none of these rulers were democratically selected by the people of Palestine, and many of the laws are antiquated and unfair.
The daily life of Palestinians is profoundly affected by the decisions of the neighbouring state of Israel, and their occupying military. Collective punishment is common: agricultural lands can become a closed military zone in a moment; all roads can be closed; even entrances to towns can be shut—Hares, the neighbouring town to Deir Istiya, has a heavy yellow gate that the military can close when it feels to.
The felt presence of the inequality of occupation is clearly evident, soldiers and watchtowers seem omniscient. Yet the effects can be more hidden: Israeli West Bank settlements and their industries flourish and expand, while even Palestinian homes within their village boundaries are threatened with demolition.
Update Summer 2026
The situation for Palestinians in the West Bank continues to deteriorate. Homes are being demolished,
settler violence and intimidation are intensifying, and movement is increasingly restricted by
checkpoints, road closures, and military controls. In a recent UN report, Israeli authorities and settlers
were said to have forcibly displaced more than 36,000 Palestinians in the West Bank over 12 months, amid
accelerated settlement expansion and growing violence.
See the UN report for more details.
These conditions create severe barriers for students trying to pursue higher education. Travel between home and university is often dangerous, unpredictable, or impossible, and many young people are forced to choose between living at university or trying to study remotely from home. At the same time, many families can no longer afford the costs of university.
We remain deeply aware of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the vital work of organisations providing emergency aid such as food, water, and medical care. Alongside this, education continues to be a highly valued and essential resource in Palestinian society, offering young people hope, stability, and the chance to contribute skills and knowledge to their communities.
For this reason, we continue our commitment to supporting students in the West Bank. Now more than ever, financial assistance through scholarships is crucial in enabling young Palestinians to access further and higher education in their own country.
