Students from Gaza CAN bring family members says Labour in major migrant U-turn

However, some had reportedly said they would not able to take up the scholarships because it would mean leaving their children behind.

The Government has now said it will support the evacuation of dependants "on a case-by-case basis."

A Government spokesman said: "Students coming from Gaza to the UK have suffered an appalling ordeal after two years of conflict.

"They have endured unimaginable hardship, but can now begin to rebuild their lives through studying in our world class universities.

"That is why we are supporting the evacuation of dependants of students on scholarships who are eligible to study here under the immigration rules on a case-by-case basis.

"Dependants must first meet the requirements of the immigration rules, including having verifiable funding to cover living costs."

Under the proposals, Gazan students will need to apply for partners and children to get a student dependant visa, and meet immigration requirements, which include being able to cover living costs of up to £6,120 outside London or £7,605 in London.

The Government has supported a group of students to leave Gaza and take up fully funded places for both postgraduate and undergraduate courses this academic year.

UK officials worked with Israeli authorities to ensure the students could leave Gaza, and conducted biometric checks.

At least 75 Gazan students have arrived in the UK since the Government began supporting the evacuations, according to the BBC.

One Palastinian who came over was Manar al-Houbi, who previously told the BBC it was "impossible" for her to leave her three young children and husband behind in Gaza to take up her PhD place at the University of Glasgow.

She said she was "deeply relieved" by the policy change and hoped to be evacuated with her family "very soon".

Al-Houbi told the BBC: "Academic women should never be deprived of their professional just because they have family responsibilities.

"I am very grateful to the UK government for making this wise and fair decision."

One of those who was evacuated from Gaza was 27-year-old doctor Abdallah, who has begun his studies at the Queen Mary University of London.

He told The Guardian: "It’s a strange mixture of feelings. Being happy, being stressed, sometimes being overwhelmed.

"Living in Gaza for 27 years, then getting here and being in London, it’s completely shocking. The very basic things here are luxuries in Gaza."

Soha, a 31-year-old studying for a PhD in nursing at Ulster University in Belfast, added: "The most difficult part has been being away from my family, especially with everything happening in Gaza. It’s hard to focus sometimes when my mind is with them. I feel like my soul is still in Gaza."

Israeli planes and tanks continued to target areas in eastern Gaza according to Palestinian eyewitnesses, a day after Israel said it remained committed to a US-backed ceasefire despite launching more lethal bombardments in the territory.

Witnesses said Israeli planes carried out 10 airstrikes in areas east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, while tanks shelled areas east of Gaza City in the north. No injuries or deaths were reported.

The Israeli military said it carried out "precise" strikes against "terrorist infrastructure that posed a threat to the troops" in the areas, which Israel still occupies.

From Tuesday into Wednesday, Israel retaliated for the death of an Israeli soldier with bombardments that Gaza health authorities said killed 104 people.

Israel says the soldier was killed in an attack by gunmen on territory within the so-called "yellow line" to which its troops withdrew under the ceasefire. Hamas has rejected the accusation.