Plans are being drawn up to evacuate more seriously ill children from Gaza to receive free medical treatment on the NHS, with details expected within weeks. The scheme, led by senior ministers, aims to significantly increase the number of children brought to the UK for specialist care.
Since October 7 2023, more than 50,000 children have been killed or injured in the conflict, according to Unicef. So far, only three children have been granted medical visas to come to Britain through Project Pure Hope, a volunteer-led group. Among them were Ghena, 5, who had laser surgery to save her sight, and Rama, 12, who received surgery for a lifelong bowel condition.
Last week, 15-year-old Majd Alshagnobi was flown to the UK for facial reconstructive surgery after an Israeli tank shell destroyed his jaw in February 2024. Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised last month to accelerate efforts to evacuate children, saying the public were “sickened” by scenes of desperation in Gaza.
Each child would be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and siblings if necessary, with the Home Office carrying out biometric and security checks before travel. In 2022, 21 Ukrainian children were brought to the UK for cancer treatment on the NHS. Over 100 MPs have signed a letter urging the government to fast-track the scheme.
A government spokesperson said: “We are taking forward plans to evacuate more children from Gaza who require urgent medical care, including bringing them to the UK for specialist treatment where that is the best option for their care. We are working at pace to do so as quickly as possible, with further details to be set out in due course.”
