British Palestinians call on UK to implement ‘Child Evacuation Scheme’ in Gaza

Members of the British-Palestinian community with family members trapped in Gaza met with Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday and urged him to evacuate injured children needing life-saving medical care. 

The community members included those who had children and babies killed and wounded by Israel in Gaza.

According to Palestinian health officials, at least 17,000 children have been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023.

The family members called on Starmer to implement a "Child Evacuation Scheme", in Gaza.

The pilot project would initially provide life-saving medical treatment for fifteen critically injured children from Gaza, based on Ireland's decision to take in 30 pediatric patients from Gaza. 

The UK government would coordinate travel permits, medical visas, and safe transport, the community members said.

The community members also called on Starmer to implement a "Family Reunification Scheme" for Palestinian refugees, noting that families have been separated by Israel's war on Gaza, with loved ones stranded in the enclave.

The system calls for a legal pathway for travel to the UK designed to model that offered to Ukrainians, following Russia’s invasion.

The community also called on the UK to lobby for more aid to enter Gaza, noting that Israel is using "starvation as a weapon of war".

"The families called for a British personnel presence at border crossings to ensure agile inspection processes and monitor and ensure that aid flows unrestricted into Gaza," said a statement shared by the British Palestinian Families Network and The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians.