University of Waterloo says two PhD students killed in Gaza airstrike

Sally Ghazi Ibaid (left) and Dalia Ghazi Ibaid (right). (Courtesy: Sally and Dalia's family)

The University of Waterloo says twin sisters, who were set to start their PhD studies at the school, were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Dec. 5.

Dalia Ghazi Ibaid and Sally Ghazi Ibaid were planning to get their PhD in System Design Engineering.

The university said the sisters were the recipients of their Student Relief Fellowship and were chosen based on their “outstanding academic achievement and demonstrated research potential.”

In a media release on Dec. 17, the University of Waterloo shared a statement from their parents.

“We (the family) would like to thank you (the people working on the fellowship) for helping Sally and Dalia,” they wrote. “Unlike the last year, in the last few days, the twins were vibrant, bubbly, excited and full of dreams and ambitions. They constantly talked about their PhD study, jokingly calling each other Dr. Sally and Dr. Dalia, and talking about the things they want to do in Canada. Through your help, they saw an end to their and our suffering. You gave them and us hope. Unfortunately, they did not get their opportunity to realize their dreams. Thank you for caring about and helping our daughters.”

No further details have been shared about the airstrike that killed the sisters.

The school did not say when Dalia and Sally were set to start their studies.