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Pakistan decides to host 100 Gaza medical students as Israel’s war enters tenth month
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Wednesday announced its decision to allow nearly 100 medical students from Gaza to complete their education in the country, as Israel’s war against the residents of the Palestinian enclave enters its tenth month.
The PMDC, a statutory regulatory authority that oversees medical and dental professions in Pakistan, discussed the issue in a recent meeting following a request by Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London to accommodate these students in medical universities within the country.
Israel besieged the Gaza Strip, launching airstrikes and ground offensive, after a surprise attack was initiated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in what it said was in response to the deteriorating condition of Palestinian people under Israeli occupation.
So far, nearly 38,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the war, prompting much of the international community to criticize Israel’s “disproportionate response” and accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration of committing “genocide.”
“This Council’s decision enables Gaza students to continue their medical education in Pakistan on humanitarian grounds, ensuring that their studies are not interrupted due to the challenging circumstances in their home country,” the PMDC said in a statement.
“Students will be coming in batches of 20-30, with an expected number of 100 students,” it continued.
The PMDC maintained receiving medical education from Pakistan would provide the Palestinian students numerous benefits which they would take back with them to their country, impacting their communities and the overall health care 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. “They will gain back specialized skills in fields such as cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, pediatrics, or surgery, addressing critical needs in Gaza’s health care system.”
Several international media outlets have reported significant destruction of hospitals and universities in Gaza.
The World Health Organization and other sources have documented severe damage to the area’s health care facilities, including the largest hospital, Al-Shifa, which has been rendered non-functional due to extensive damage in the ongoing conflict.
There have also been widespread reports of substantial damage to educational institutions along with reports of deliberate targeting of Palestinian academics.
