The UK government is developing a compassionate initiative to bring children from Gaza to the UK for urgent medical care within the National Health Service (NHS). Senior ministers are finalizing details, with an announcement expected soon. This response comes amid the devastating toll of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where UNICEF reports over 50,000 children have been killed or injured since October 7, 2023.
Currently, only three children have received medical visas for treatment in the UK through Project Pure Hope, a volunteer-led medical organization. Earlier this year, five-year-old Ghena underwent laser surgery in the UK to save her sight, addressing fluid pressure on her optic nerve. Twelve-year-old Rama, from Khan Younis, received life-changing surgery for a chronic bowel condition unavailable in Gaza. Most recently, 15-year-old Majd Alshagnobi arrived for facial reconstructive surgery after an Israeli tank shell shattered his jaw in February 2024 while he sought aid.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, responding to public outrage over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, pledged last month to accelerate efforts to evacuate children needing critical care. He emphasized the public’s horror at scenes of starvation and desperation, vowing to bring more Palestinian children to the UK for specialized treatment. While the scale of the program remains unclear, ministers aim to significantly expand the number of children helped. Each child would travel with a parent or guardian, and siblings if needed, following rigorous Home Office biometric and security checks.
This initiative draws precedent from 2022, when 21 Ukrainian children were brought to the UK for NHS cancer treatment. Over 100 MPs, led by Labour MP Stella Creasy, have signed a letter demanding swift action, stressing the urgency of saving young lives as the conflict continues to claim and harm more children daily.
A government spokesperson confirmed the plans, stating, “We are moving quickly to evacuate more children from Gaza for urgent medical care, including treatment in the UK where appropriate. Further details will be shared soon.” The UK is also collaborating with Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza, following Israel’s temporary pause in military operations amid global outcry over widespread malnutrition and starvation.
Starmer has signaled that the UK may recognize a Palestinian state in September 2025 if Israel does not alter its current trajectory, underscoring a broader commitment to addressing the crisis.
