AUSTIN, Texas — A University of Texas law student living and studying in Israel got some good news Wednesday.
KVUE first told you about Oceane Maher last week as she started getting ready for her exchange program as part of a partnership between UT and Tel Aviv University.
Maher arrived as the war started, which led her and a few other students to launch a fundraising effort to help families affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
"I just got some very exciting news that I have been approved to continue to study in Israel and pursue our semester here, as originally planned," Maher posted on Instagram.
Maher said she got word earlier this week that her program had been suspended and that she would need to leave the country. But on Wednesday, she learned that she was approved to stay.
KVUE reached out to UT about the decision, but the university would not directly comment.
Maher said she and two other exchange students, one of whom is also a UT student, are trying to help those impacted in the region as best they can. They've raised more than $10,000 in aid during that time.
"I saw a lot of kids. There were 300 people in one of those villages and there are 120 left," Maher said. "The rest are either taken hostage or dead. So, I can only imagine what they are feeling right now. We are doing what we can here and I wish I could do more."
Maher said she does not plan on coming back to the U.S. until December.