Palestinian student shatters barriers to lead Oxford Union
19-year-old Arwa Elrayess becomes first Palestinian and Arab woman elected president of prestigious debating society
OXFORD (MNTV) — The Oxford Union, among the world’s most elite student organizations, has chosen a Palestinian woman as its president for the first time in the institution’s 202-year history.
Arwa Hanin Elrayess secured a decisive victory on Saturday, winning 757 first-preference votes—150 more than her closest competitor—to lead the society during the Trinity (summer) term of 2026.
Voter participation reached 1,528 members, significantly exceeding previous election turnout.
The St. Edmund Hall student, who studies philosophy, politics and economics, expressed appreciation for the confidence members placed in her leadership.
“I am grateful and humbled by the faith and trust the members of the Union have placed in me and my team,” Elrayess stated following the results.
“I want to thank all those who put aside their differences and came together to work towards a shared vision of this Union, which we all adore. I look forward to serving the members of this society in Trinity Term 2026.”
Her victory marks a watershed moment: she becomes the first Palestinian, first Arab woman, and first Algerian to helm the debating society founded in 1823.
Journey shaped by heritage
Born in London to a Palestinian father and Algerian mother, Elrayess grew up surrounded by conversations about occupation, resistance and identity. When her family moved to Gaza during her childhood, political discussions became lived experience.
The contrast between her British passport’s freedom of movement and her Gaza-born cousins’ confinement shaped fundamental questions about diaspora responsibility.
Her family’s political legacy runs generations deep. Great-grandfather Munir Muhammad al-Rayyes served as Gaza’s mayor during turbulent mid-20th century decades, while grandfather Nahid Munir al-Rayyes held positions as deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council and justice minister, in addition to his work as an influential poet.
Elrayess’ pivotal moment at the Oxford Union came in October 2024, one year into Israel’s military assault on Gaza. Just weeks after her family home was bombed and several relatives killed, she stood during a debate on Palestine and Israel to speak about their lives.
The experience marked a turning point, as a fellow student approached afterward explaining how personal testimony had transformed the conflict from distant headline to emotional reality.
Beyond her studies, Elrayess contributed to “Heart of a Protest,” a documentary examining London demonstrations supporting Palestinians.
The zero-budget film, created by five people, chronicles protest movements that emerged following Israel’s Gaza genocide, tracing connections to events since 1947, according to promotional materials.
Her path to victory was fraught with challenges. Elrayess faced persistent smear campaigns, being labeled an extremist and falsely accused of appearing on counter-terrorism watchlists.
Some individuals even warned her supporters they risked legal consequences for backing her candidacy.
Rather than retreat, she viewed these attacks as confirmation that her message mattered.
Her campaign team remained unified—a diverse coalition spanning Jewish students, Conservatives, Labour supporters, and Liberals united by shared vision rather than uniform ideology.
In an interview, she drew parallels to Ebrahim Osman-Mowafy, the Union’s first Arab president, who briefly faced disqualification before reinstatement.
These patterns, observers note, reveal why representation matters and why it provokes such fierce resistance.
Reimagining an elite institution
The Oxford Union, which regularly hosts prominent speakers for public Q&A sessions and competitive debates, has traditionally operated through a small committee that shapes its agenda despite tens of thousands of members.
Elrayess intends to expand that circle, acknowledging the institution functions somewhat insularly and that many students from marginalized backgrounds assume it wasn’t created for them.
She aims to demonstrate that these spaces are accessible and that newcomers can forge their own paths within established institutions.
Her leadership begins amid organizational turbulence. The election followed no-confidence votes against president-elect George Abaraonye and president Moosa Harraj.
Harraj survived his October vote, while Abaraonye lost his following controversy over comments he posted about Charlie Kirk’s death.
Abaraonye later claimed the vote was compromised, telling the BBC that opponents had unsupervised access to an email account collecting proxy ballots.
For Elrayess, breaking barriers represents only the starting point. She acknowledges that visibility invites attacks, but maintains that support ultimately outweighs opposition. Her message emphasizes the importance of taking initial steps so others can follow, viewing this historical moment as particularly significant for advancing change.
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