Former Glasgow University student killed in devastating Gaza bombing

Tributes are going out to Dima Alhaj and her family

12 months ago

Aaron Purba | News

A former student at the University of Glasgow, Dima Alhaj, has been killed in Gaza this morning alongside her six-month-old baby, her husband and her two brothers.

The Herald reported Alhaj and her family are understood to have died after being “crushed under the rubble” when her parents’ house in southern Gaza, where she had evacuated to, was hit by a bomb on Tuesday. It is understood over 50 family and community members sheltering in the same house also died.

A few years ago, the 29-year-old was an Erasmus student at the University of Glasgow. She recently worked for the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a patient administrator at a Limb Reconstruction Centre.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO, wrote that he was “devastated” at the loss.

My colleagues and I are devastated: we have lost one of our own in #Gaza today.

Our young @WHOoPt colleague Dima Alhaj was tragically killed alongside her 6 month old baby, her husband and 2 brothers. Reportedly multiple other family members sheltering in the same house were… pic.twitter.com/vURpNFRXe6

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 21, 2023

University of Glasgow’s Principal, Anton Muscatelli said how “tragic” the news was “in the midst of thousands of similar stories of grief and despair”, calling Dima “one of our own”.

This is one utterly tragic news story in the midst of thousands of similar stories of grief and despair. Dima was an Erasmus student in @UofGlasgow a few years ago – the @WHO DG’s message says it all. We share their grieving for one of our own. Ceasefire and release hostages now. https://t.co/CJZ13spiCe

— Anton Muscatelli (@UofGVC) November 21, 2023

Journalist and friend of Dima, Liam O’Hare has commented via X: “Dima is a former student at the University of Glasgow and stayed with my parents when she was in Scotland. She and her husband Mohammed had moved four times during the attack on Gaza and said last week that she hoped her son Abood would live to see brighter days.”

He also shared some of Dima’s last messages, including a picture of her six-month-old son, showing his support for her and her family.

This was Dima’s last message exchange with my mum, just last week. What a beautiful smile her son Abood had. What a travesty and injustice that their young lives have been brutally cut short. pic.twitter.com/6OqXj7k1tg

— Liam O'Hare (@Liam_O_Hare) November 22, 2023

First Minister Humza Yousaf has been vocal about backing a ceasefire as he tabled the Parliamentary motion on Gaza which was debated in Holyrood on Tuesday.