Gaza Mother Endures Racist Abuse Following Reform MP's Criticism of UK Study Dream
Alaa Radwan, a mother of three from Gaza, has faced horrific racist abuse after her appeal to move her family to the UK for a university degree was bizarrely blasted by former Home Secretary and Reform MP Suella Braverman. Radwan escaped Gaza with her family in 2024 when their home was destroyed by Israeli bombardment, fleeing to Egypt while maintaining contact with loved ones in war-torn Palestine.
University Offer Sparks Hope and Backlash
Last month, Radwan received an unconditional offer from Goldsmiths, University of London, to study a Master's degree in Media and Communications. She launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to cover costs for herself and her family to reach the UK, describing it as a dream and a new beginning after losing everything in Gaza. However, after sharing her appeal on social media platform X, Braverman reposted the message, criticising Radwan for planning to bring her husband and three young children.
Braverman wrote: "You don’t need to bring your husband and three children to do a degree in Media Studies. Universities need to stop selling immigration instead of education." This comment sparked a wave of online attacks from right-wing fanatics, forcing Radwan to delete her X account due to overwhelming abuse.
Racist Messages and Family Trauma
Radwan revealed that Braverman led the attack, with messages including racist slurs such as "Don't come to the UK. We don't want you. We hate your kind. F*** off" and "You are not wanted or welcome in my country." She emphasised that separating from her traumatised children under five was unthinkable, and clarified that the fundraiser was fully self-funded, with no reliance on public money.
Radwan explained: "I raised the funds on GoFundMe, and it's fully self-funded. I wouldn't be taking any money from anyone, and we are planning to support ourselves in the UK." She noted that UK law allows her to work 20 hours per week while studying full-time.
Successful Fundraiser and Future Hopes
After raising over £40,000, Radwan has paid the deposit for her university place and is applying for visas. The funds will cover tuition fees of £21,000 and visa applications costing around £6,500. She now looks forward to a bright future, stating: "For someone like me, who has lost everything in Gaza, this opportunity is a new beginning for a family that has endured the horrors of genocide, displacement, and the loss of relatives and friends for more than two years."
