GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The siege surrounding Gaza has affected hundreds of university students. Some who are studying in universities outside of the Strip have been unable to enroll for the new semester because of the closure of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as reported by Al-Monitor. There is also another group of students in Gaza who, due to the deteriorating economic conditions, cannot afford fees for local universities.

The increased siege on the Strip and its institutions — particularly academic ones — has pushed some universities to take steps requiring students to register for a full schedule and to pay all fees without loans or scholarships.

The Islamic University is one of several universities that has decided to cancel the minimum registration of six hours and subsequent fees. The university’s president, Kamalain Shaath, justified the decision in a statement posted on the website of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Gaza on Sept. 1. He said the decision was due to "the repercussions of the financial crisis experienced by the university as a result of the loss of government support from the governments in Gaza and Ramallah, in addition to a lack of clarity of vision for grants for the university. "

Iman Abu Haloub, 18, who was enrolled to study mathematics at the Islamic University, has been unable to pay her university fees of $350 a semester. “My family and I prepared the money, but our economic condition is bad. My father, who works as a blacksmith, stopped working after injuring his eye. Because of this, I withdrew from my studies and gave him the money for medical treatment,” she told Al-Monitor.