Batool expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support in providing educational opportunities and emphasized her commitment to returning to Gaza to serve her community after completing her studies.
An interview with Batool Ayman Abdul Hadi Abu Shaban who is a Palestinian student and she is a part of group of medical students from Palestine currently studying in Pakistan on scholarships. She is a 21-year-old, 4th-year medical student from Gaza. Batool shared her educational journey and experiences before and after the October 7, 2023 conflict. She described her early life in Gaza, attending prestigious schools and universities, and her passion for medicine. Following the outbreak of war, she and her family evacuated to Egypt and then to Pakistan, where she is currently continuing her medical education. Batool detailed her extensive online training with international universities, including courses at Stanford, Harvard, and Cambridge. She discussed the challenges faced by Palestinian medical students, particularly the destruction of educational institutions in Gaza and the urgent need for medical professionals and resources to rebuild the healthcare system. Batool also expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support in providing educational opportunities and emphasized her commitment to returning to Gaza to serve her community after completing her studies. She sat for an interview with the FactFile and the excerpt is in the following:
FactFile: Can you share about your personal life, family and experiences with us prior to October 7, 2023?
Batool Ayman Abdul Hadi Abu Shaban: Before 7 October, it was so calm and peaceful life. I had a normal life as usual in our homes. Plus, I have grown up with other girls, boys, uncles, aunts and family members in Gaza. I had a beautiful home and I lived with my father, mother and siblings near Al Abbas mosque in Gaza.
Batool’s life on October 7, 2023
FactFile: Can you share the details on what happened on October 7, 2023?
Batool: On October the 7th, 2023, I woke up at 5 o’clock. At 7 AM, my friend was planning to attend operation with Dr. Elias Jan Arteen at Al-Quds Hospital in Tall-Ahawa. But, at 06:30 am the war started. At that time, I was preparing the coffee for breakfast because my friend was coming to my home and we planned to go together to Al-Quds Hospital to attend surgeries and operations with Dr. Elias. The war started but we did not stop the education for a few days. I went to the university even as the war continued.
FactFile: How did your life change after 7 October 2023?
Batool: My life changed completely after 7 October 2023. Everything was destroyed. I am not talking just about my home and about evacuation and leaving the country. I am talking about the fact that they destroyed my university. They destroyed our neighborhoods. They destroyed our mosques and literally everything.
It was so bad. There was nothing left like there was no hospital, no life. Even the basic needs for the human beings were nonexistent such as food, medication, shelter or anything. There was no work, no jobs and everything was destroyed.
They destroyed our mosques, our culture, our traditions and everything in our homes. Everything was different because we lost everything, even our lives. I didn’t in my life expect to come to Pakistan. I didn’t expect to leave my country for a long time such as this time. So, it has definitely changed completely from what it was.
Evacuation from Gaza
FactFile: Can you share your evacuation journey with our readers?
Batool: Oh! Those were very difficult days. On 13 October, we evacuated from the center of Gaza City in Remal to the south of Gaza to Khan Yunis and Rafah. We were in the same warzone for around 5 months. Later on, on the 28th of February 2024, we went from Gaza, we crossed the Rafah crossing and went to Egypt to join our other family members.
FactFile: Can you share your experience of living in Egypt?
Batool: We are glad that Egypt has helped us save our lives. There are thousands of Palestinians in Egypt and they always come to our support, especially in times of wars. However, there is a big number of our people in Egypt and limited opportunities for education, especially medical education.
FactFile: What were your emotions when you were coming out of Gaza?
Batool: It was on 28th February 2024. I was traveling to Egypt but I had left my heart inside Gaza. Moreover, I still feel that it is beating there in my room, although they have left nothing at my home. I still recall that my emotions were clearly telling that I just want to return back to Gaza. It was a strange time. My family was evacuating and I could not stay alone there. Yet, every moment I stay alive, I look forward to returning back.
A journey towards medical profession
FactFile: Why did you choose the medical profession as a career for you?
Batool: Since childhood, since I was a kid, I was 3, 4 years old and I would play doctor game. I wasn’t interested in kitchen. I was just wanting to be a doctor to treat patients because no one deserves to feel the pain, either psychological or semantic. It was this passion which brought me to the medical field.
After completing studies, I joined Al-Azhar University in Gaza in 2020. The first year it was online due to Covid-19, but then after the second year we attended university.
FactFile: Can you share your first thoughts on continuing your education in Pakistan?
Batool: I had never been here before this. I was worried in the beginning but I was just thinking about continuing my education. Luckily, there were other Palestinian girls with me. And, my parents were also less worried as they thought we are going to a brotherly nation. I must say it has been a beautiful experience for me.
FactFile: Did you get any cultural shock?
Batool: No. Not at all. Pakistan is an Islamic country and Islam unites us. How could we get a cultural shock? Nearly everyone here is Muslim. They follow Islam and follow similar practices as in our own homes.
Experience of actually living and studying in Pakistan
FactFile: How will you rate your experience of actually living and studying in Pakistan?
Batool: I came to Pakistan on 17 October 2024. It was so hard in the beginning. We left our families back home and thinking about our people was worrying. Moreover, we’re all young students. And naturally, one faces several problems in the beginning. However, our every problem was solved. Every Pakistan here is so helping. When they come to know that were from Palestine; they are shocked. And then, they want to help you through whatever means it’s possible. Especially, the females here in Pakistan are treating us very well.
FactFile: How do you find education in Pakistan different from Gaza?
Batool: it is not different but I think because my university is strict with the students I think a lot of exams even in stressful conditions in the world you must concentrate at what you are doing so I think in Gaza the education is the best education but here in Pakistan it is also the best especially the federal medical college
In Gaza the curriculum is different. In the medical field, we have three years basic course and three years of clinical training. It is followed by one year of internship. So, it is seven years in total. However, it is only five years in Pakistan. We finished the three years but we didn’t go to any clinical so we’re actually getting our clinical training here in Pakistan.
I learned a lot. Even today, I was inside the MRI machine attending patients from different areas. Our teachers put all their efforts to get us quality in learning. They teach us in the best manner while following the best practices.
Pakistan’s Support for Gaza
FactFile: How do you see the role of Pakistan in supporting Gaza?
Batool: Pakistan did a lot for Gaza. It is actually more than enough for us. Pakistan has accepted hundreds of Palestinian students and admitted them in best universities. In Pakistan, it feels like a home away from home. We feel like we are at home. And that we are safe with you
We will continue our education here then we will return back to our country. But we will never forget what Pakistan did for us at this point of time.
Palestinian Students in Pakistan
FactFile: Can you share details about the Palestinian Students currently studying in Pakistan?
Batool: We call it G-Hope or Gaza Hope. This is through a network of NGOs that support Palestinian students to study in Pakistan on scholarships. At present, there are 145 Palestinian students in three universities in Islamabad Capital Territory in our batch. They attend Foundation University, Rawalpindi Medical College and Federal Medical College. Moreover, there are 27 students of dentistry studying dental practices in Lahore.
Frankly, this is a great support for us. However, Pakistan should offer more fields of education to Palestinian students. Our engineers, teachers, sportsmen and others have no options anywhere. They have to opt for online learning. But, you know these fields require interpersonal level of learning. I would really urge and request the Pakistani authorities to increase the quota for Palestinian students.
FactFile: How do you see your role in Gaza after completing your studies in Pakistan?
Batool: I’m planning to return back to Gaza and work there. I look forward to assist my country fellows in their health needs. Also, I have taken several diplomas in psychological issues and mental health as well. I hope to help my people back home on my return.
Moreover, I hope to treat patients in my area, maybe I will teach in universities and any other means to serve the humanity. I treat the Pakistani patients here. When I go back to Gaza, I hope to treat the Palestinian patients there.
Plus, I really hope to welcome my Pakistani friends in Gaza one day.
Immediate Needs in Gaza Amid Ceasefire
FactFile: What are the immediate needs in Gaza as the ceasefire continues in the area.
Batool: As Israel and Hamas have agreed on a ceasefire. The people can return but there is an unimaginable damage. You may have seen the images. There is all rubble left on the ground. There are no buildings, no strictures, no shelters, and no universities. Actually, there is nothing left. And presently, Gaza needs support of any kind. Gaza need doctors, Gaza need antibiotics, Gaza need medications, Gaza need medical equipment and especially prosthetic lamps.
We need professional doctors, the specialized doctors in various fields such as orthopedic, surgery, pediatrics and even the first aid. They should come to Gaza to treat the patients because there is no specialist.
FactFile: Do you recall any interesting story from Gaza after October 7, 2023?
Batool: Well, there are millions of amazing stories of people of Gaza. They have shown their resilience to the world. Yet, I must share how my mentor and teacher Dr. Haitham displayed the strength to help people when you’re yourself bruised and injured. His name is Dr. Haitham and he was also severely injured in the war. But he got to the hospital to teach the students while ignoring his own injuries. I’m still appreciating his commitment because he wanted to teach students as Gaza needed doctors. He was aware that Gaza was in need of medical students to continue their studies so he left aside his own pain and came forward to teach the students.
Note: Some part of this interview is edited for clarity purposes. However, the text represents the entire interview conversation with Ms. Batool Ayman Abdul Hadi Abu Shaban.
Long live Pakistan and Palestine