Brian Cox has joined a group of celebrities supporting a fundraising initiative aimed at helping Palestinian students access education in the United Kingdom. The 80-year-old actor, known for his role in Succession and originally from Dundee, is contributing personal memorabilia for auction as part of the Scholarships for Gaza crowdfunding campaign, which has raised more than £11,000 to date.
Other notable figures participating in the Phoenix Space project include Gary Lineker, Nicola Coughlan, Paloma Faith, Charlotte Church, and Dame Vanessa Redgrave. Cox recently described the ongoing conflict in Gaza as a "travesty," expressing his belief in the importance of truth and criticizing Israel's actions in the region as "unforgivable."
The fundraiser seeks to support over 200 Palestinian students from Gaza who have secured placements at UK universities but remain unable to leave the Gaza Strip due to ongoing hostilities and border restrictions. Gaza has been heavily affected by conflict, with reports indicating that more than 73,000 people, including approximately 20,000 children, have died amid allegations of severe violations by Israeli forces.
One highlighted case is that of Shaymaa, a 33-year-old who won a fully funded PhD scholarship in English literature at the University of Edinburgh but was stranded in Gaza, reportedly living in a tent and facing obstacles to travel. The Scottish National Party (SNP) government is reportedly discussing the creation of a formal scholarship programme to assist Gazan students, although critics have called for faster progress.
Meanwhile, the UK Government has pledged support for students holding scholarships or funding from British universities by facilitating their departure from Gaza when possible. Heba Abaid, 26, who has been offered a master's degree placement at Lancaster University, described the backing from celebrities as deeply meaningful.
Efforts continue to address the educational barriers faced by Palestinian students amid the broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza.