Over 130 Palestinian students from Gaza have been accepted into Canadian universities but remain trapped due to the Government of Canada's inaction. Many have evacuated and completed biometrics, yet their study permits have been stalled for close to two years. As a result, many have lost their admissions due to government delays and are facing life-threatening conditions in Gaza.
Unlike the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Ireland, Canada has refused to amend existing policy frameworks to allow biometrics exemption, provide evacuation support, or process visas on humanitarian and compassionate grounds.
We urge Canadians to email and call their MPs. We are demanding immediate policy change to allow these students to continue their education and uphold Canada’s historic commitment to global academic solidarity and humanitarian principles.
Their lives and futures are on the line. Canada must act now!

At a news conference in Ottawa, academics and advocacy groups called for an urgent, coordinated federal response to severe study permit delays facing Gazan graduate students. Amer Shalaby, Terezia Zoric, Diana Allan, and Dania Kassim collectively urged immediate policy action to address what they describe as systemic anti-Palestinian discrimination within the immigration system.
June 2, 2026: NDP Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan questions the Immigration Minister on stalled visas for 130 Palestinian graduate students with Canadian scholarships, calling for emergency travel documents and immediate action to fulfill past government promises. MP Kwan calls for immediate, transparent action, deferred biometrics, and emergency travel documents to ensure these scholars can safely exit and begin their studies.
May 28, 2026: In a committee cross-examination, NDP Member of Parliament Jenny Kwan demands transparency on why Canada refuses to implement the flexible biometric solutions and emergency travel pathways already utilized by European allies. Pressing for hidden data regarding exit clearance lists and application backlogs, this exchange puts a spotlight on the strict scrutiny and intense pressure facing federal officials to fix a stalled immigration system.
At a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, NDP Leader Avi Lewis and NDP MP Jenny Kwan are joined by representatives from various groups to discuss the filing of mandamus applications by Palestinian students, specifically Gazan graduate students, who are seeking study permits to attend Canadian universities.
At a news conference in Ottawa, academics and advocacy groups are calling for a coordinated government response to the delays in study permits for Palestinian students applying to Canadian universities. Speaking with reporters are Nada El-Falou (director of Student Services at the Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk Network), Sean Tucker (professor at the University of Regina’s faculty of business administration), Saleha Faruqued (advocacy programs manager at Justice for All Canada), and Sherif Awad (Ottawa lead at CMPAC).
At a news conference on Parliament Hill, representatives from several advocacy groups are calling on the federal government to address study permit delays affecting Palestinian students applying to Canadian universities. Speaking with reporters are Nadia Abu Zahra, Taha Ghayyur, Nahla Abdo, Nir Hagigi, and Iqra Khalid.
At a Parliament Hill news conference, Liberal MP Salma Zahid and NDP MP Heather McPherson joined representatives from Oxfam Canada and the Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council to challenge federal delays on Palestinian student visas. The panel highlighted that over 70 high-achieving graduate scholars remain stuck in limbo despite holding confirmed Canadian admissions and major scholarships.
In an Ottawa press conference, university professors and the National Council of Canadian Muslims demanded immediate federal action to process visas for over 70 Palestinian graduate students. Presenters Dr. Nadia Abu-Zahra, Aaron Shafer, Diana Allan, and Ahmad Al Qadi emphasized that these elite scholars hold confirmed Canadian admissions and scholarships but remain trapped in Gaza.