Sri Lanka, Aug. 26 -- The Britishgovernment has agreed plans to allow around 40 students in Gaza to come to the UK in the coming weeks to take up funded university scholarships.

Nine have been told they will be given assistance to leave Gaza to pursue scholarships under the Chevening scheme, a predominantly government-funded initiative for international students to study one-year master's degrees.

The BBC understands the home secretary has also approved plans to help around 30 others who have fully funded scholarships through other private schemes.

They would be the first to leave Gaza to study in the UK since the Hamas-Israel war began in 2023. However, Israel must agree that each student can leave the territory.

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