UK Lawmakers Urge PM to Establish Gaza Family Visa Program
(MENAFN) A coalition of 67 British lawmakers is calling on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to urgently establish a visa program for Palestinians in Gaza who have relatives in the UK. These MPs and members of the House of Lords are urging the government to introduce a "Gaza family scheme," drawing inspiration from the Ukraine Family Scheme that was rolled out following the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.
In a joint letter, shared with a news outlet, the cross-party group expresses profound concern about the harrowing conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza, including the devastating impact of Israel’s ongoing siege and bombings. The letter condemns Israel’s tactics, highlighting the use of starvation as a weapon, and the relentless airstrikes on Gaza’s civilian population.
"We write to express our grave concern at the immense suffering inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza. Israel’s shattering of the temporary ceasefire agreement, weaponization of starvation, intensifying campaign of bombardment and military assaults, and targeting of people accessing humanitarian aid, have created conditions of mass death and displacement," the lawmakers state.
They also underline the staggering toll of the conflict, reporting that since October 7, 2023, more than 56,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, with many experts believing the actual number is far higher.
The letter points out the near-impossible barriers Palestinians face when trying to reach the UK, including the destruction of Gaza’s Visa Application Center and the closure of the Rafah border crossing into Egypt.
"Palestinians in Gaza have been stripped of their most basic rights to life, food, and healthcare. Amidst this horror, many Palestinians with family members in the UK remain stranded without any safe or viable path to reunite with their loved ones in the UK," they wrote.
The MPs also emphasized that many of their constituents have relatives in Gaza who are desperate to be reunited. "Many of us have constituents with family members in Gaza, who are desperate to reunite with their children, their husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews – people they may never see again unless urgent action is taken."
The letter further highlights the bureaucratic hurdles UK-based Palestinians face when trying to bring their families over, noting that many have encountered insurmountable obstacles in navigating the immigration system.
"Some of us have constituents whose family members, having managed to flee Gaza to Egypt, are stuck in limbo, with no access to schools or healthcare to begin the process of rebuilding their lives," the signatories added.
In conclusion, the group urges the government to take swift action, fearing that without a change in policy, the situation for families separated by this conflict will only worsen.
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