SAFA- More than 20 prominent British figures from the worlds of sports, arts, music, and literature have launched a charity auction to raise funds for Palestinian students from Gaza who have secured places at British universities but are unable to afford the cost of studying abroad.

The ten-day online auction, which began on 27 July, is part of the Scholarships for Gaza initiative, organized by the Phoenix Space charity. The campaign aims to provide full scholarships covering tuition, travel, and other study-related expenses for students whose education has been disrupted by the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip.

Organizers said the initiative seeks to harness the public profiles of well-known British personalities to help talented Palestinian students continue their academic journeys after years of genocide, which has devastated Gaza's education sector and left many families unable to finance higher education overseas.

Among the items being auctioned are a signed football shirt donated by former England striker and broadcaster Gary Lineker, a copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and a necklace worn by acclaimed British actress Vanessa Redgrave.

The campaign features contributions from 23 British celebrities, including actor Brian Cox, singer Paloma Faith, musician Charlotte Church, and several other figures from the fields of sports, arts, and literature, all of whom have donated personal items to support the fundraising effort.

The initiative comes as hundreds of high-achieving students from Gaza have received offers of admission from British universities but face significant financial barriers, including tuition fees, travel costs, and living expenses.

Last month, the British government announced that it would continue facilitating the departure of Palestinian students from Gaza to pursue higher education in the United Kingdom, provided they had secured full scholarships or could independently finance their studies.

More than 100 Palestinian students were able to travel from Gaza to the UK to start their studies last academic year, the organisers said. However, hundreds more who have already received university offers remain unable to enroll because they have yet to obtain the funding needed to leave Gaza and cover the costs of their education.