2026-06-28 00:57:52 +0100
To: The Home Secretary and The Foreign Secretary
The UK announced Gaza evacuations. Now remove the barrier blocking them.
We are calling on the Foreign Secretary to follow the June 2026 announcement with immediate direct airlifts for critically ill children from Gaza, as Italy has already done across 14+ operations. We are also calling on the Home Secretary to remove the biometric enrolment barrier currently preventing patients from travelling by granting an exception that allows biometric enrolment on arrival in the UK rather than requiring it in advance of travel. Gaza's visa application centre has been closed since October 2023. Without fixing this, the announcement means very little in practice.
Why is this important?
Two years ago, shortly after giving birth to my own baby, I came across the story of a mother in Gaza named Samah Matar. As a new mother, I found it impossible not to see my own child in her sons. I reached out, and we have stayed in contact ever since.
Italy has airlifted over 180 children to safety. The UK Government announced in June 2026 that it will resume medical evacuations. Although this is great news, the announcement confirmed that patients must still provide biometric information ahead of travel, without explaining how. Gaza's visa application centre has been closed since October 2023, leaving families unable to meet this requirement.
Over 18,000 people are waiting for evacuation from Gaza, including thousands of children. One of them is Amir, a young child with cerebral palsy whose brother, Yousef, died this year, unable to receive the treatment he needed. The UK has the capacity to act, but adding a barrier with no solution is not good enough
Italy has airlifted over 180 children to safety. The UK Government announced in June 2026 that it will resume medical evacuations. Although this is great news, the announcement confirmed that patients must still provide biometric information ahead of travel, without explaining how. Gaza's visa application centre has been closed since October 2023, leaving families unable to meet this requirement.
Over 18,000 people are waiting for evacuation from Gaza, including thousands of children. One of them is Amir, a young child with cerebral palsy whose brother, Yousef, died this year, unable to receive the treatment he needed. The UK has the capacity to act, but adding a barrier with no solution is not good enough
