Gaza crisis haunts Palestinian medical students in Cuba

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
19 Jun 2024 22:04

Thousands of miles away from the devastation in Gaza, Samar and hundreds of other Palestinian students are pursuing their dreams in Cuba, courtesy of scholarships from the Cuban government.

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Samar Alghoul lives in a dorm with six other students at the University of Havana, but often dreams of returning to her family's side, even if it means running toward war (AFP)

AFP reported on Wednesday on the plight endured by Palestinian medical students in Cuba, recounting feelings of helplessness as they watch their homeland burning ablaze.

21-year-old medical student from Gaza, finds herself torn between her studies and the heart-wrenching scenes unfolding in her homeland.

Thousands of miles away from the devastation in Gaza, Samar and hundreds of other Palestinian students are pursuing their dreams in Cuba, courtesy of scholarships from the Cuban government.

For Samar, the daily anguish of not knowing the safety of her family—her mother, two brothers, and sister—back in the Gaza Strip weighs heavily. "It would be easier for me to be with them than to have all these thoughts," of not knowing "what they drink, what they eat, where they sleep," Alghoul told AFP.

"We are proud of you, we are proud to have someone outside of Gaza who is studying medicine," Samar's mother reassures her over WhatsApp messages.

Samar is one of 247 Palestinian students, including 75 from Gaza, currently benefitting from Cuban scholarships, according to Palestinian ambassador Akram Samhan. Since 1974, Cuba has extended this educational opportunity to around 1,500 Palestinians, many of whom have returned to serve their communities as doctors.

Motee Almashar, 24, another Palestinian student in Cuba, speaks of the challenges of trying to maintain focus on studies amidst the constant barrage of distressing news from home.

"As soon as you pick up your phone, you see the news," he shares, reflecting on the recent loss of relatives in the bombing of Rafah.

The conflict has not only taken a toll on their emotional well-being but also impacted their financial stability. With no means to receive support from family members back in Gaza due to disrupted financial channels, Palestinian students in Cuba face additional hardships.

Ambassador Samhan has launched initiatives to gather donations from Palestinian groups globally to aid these students, recognizing their dire situation.

Mohammed Refat Almassri, 26, torn between completing his studies and returning to serve in Gaza's healthcare system, exemplifies this dilemma.

Despite his eagerness to contribute, financial constraints prevent him from flying back to Gaza where the need for medical professionals is urgent.

Cuba has always been a strong supporter of Palestinian rights and sovereignty. After the Gaza war broke out, President Miguel Diaz-Canel led a popular march of thousands of Cubans along central Malecon Street to express their support for the Palestinian cause and condemn the crimes of the Israeli occupation.

In late November, following the Israeli order to shut down Al Mayadeen's presence in occupied Palestine, Cuba expressed solidarity with the network and its global mission of upholding truth, with Cuba's Ambassador to Lebanon, Jorge Leon Cruz stating: "Once again, the American and Israeli regimes prove their fear of the defenders of truth and seek to silence them."