Hiba Benoutiq, a Moroccan PhD candidate in anthropology and sociology at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, is spending her final doctoral year in Israel as she works to complete her dissertation despite the ongoing war. Benoutiq has chosen to remain in Beersheba even as daily life is shaped by sirens and missile fire.
Her decision reflects a broader trend among international students at Ben-Gurion University. In a previous Jerusalem Post report on international students who chose to study in Israel despite the war, the university said that 98% of its foreign students continued their studies, even as academic life in Israel was repeatedly affected by wartime realities and emergency directives, including periods of remote learning during the Iran war.
Prof. Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, the university’s vice president for global engagement, said the decision by international students to remain in Israel under the current circumstances was both notable and deeply appreciated. She said their choice reflected a strong sense of belonging to the Ben-Gurion University academic community, adding that university staff, especially the Welcome Center team, have continued to provide close support.
Benoutiq is one of those students determined to stay focused on her academic goal. Her dissertation, titled Traces of Jewish Life in Rural Spaces in Morocco, examines the historical and cultural remnants of Jewish communities that once lived in Morocco’s rural regions.
Living through war while finishing a doctorate
Since arriving in Israel in January 2024, Benoutiq said she has already lived through what she describes as her “third war.” After experiencing the Swords of Iron war and the 12-day war with Iran, she is now familiar with the reality of repeated alerts in southern Israel.
From the protected space in her student dormitory in Beersheba’s Dalet neighborhood, she hears sirens, explosions, and missile impacts. Still, she said fear does not have to turn into panic.
“It is frightening, but there is no need to panic, especially when you are in a protected space with friends who encourage one another,” she said. “With every siren, you can meet new people sheltering with you in that same small room. Fear is natural, but you need to know how to control it.”
The difficult reality has not led her to consider leaving Israel. She said that, for now, finishing her dissertation remains her top priority, and the academic deadline is what shapes her decisions.
Ties to Morocco, focus on the future
Benoutiq was born and raised in Rabat, Morocco, in a middle-class family. She is the only daughter and has three brothers, with whom she stays in close contact.
“I speak with my family on video calls almost every day and reassure them each time,” she said. “I explained to them that I am in a protected place and that people here are looking after me. I hope I managed to convince them.