British Members of Parliament (MPs) are calling for a new Gaza Family Visa Scheme to help Palestinians in Gaza reunite with family members in the United Kingdom (UK).
The proposal, modeled after the Ukraine Family Scheme, is gaining cross-party support as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens.
LBC reported that Labour MP Rachael Maskell submitted an Early Day Motion (EDM) for a Gaza Family Visa Scheme.
The motion calls for creating safe routes for Palestinians in Gaza to join their family members in the UK temporarily.
It urges the British Government to act swiftly, citing the region’s devastating humanitarian crisis and severe destruction.
“There are a small number of Palestinians living in the UK whose loved ones are at imminent risk in Gaza,” the EMD read.
“[The motion] calls upon the Government to introduce a Gaza Family Visa Scheme, based upon the Ukraine Family Scheme.”
The visa scheme will enable Gaza Palestinians to reunite with family and seek temporary refuge in the UK until it is safe to return.
The ongoing conflict has left health facilities in ruins, thousands of civilians dead, and many more injured.
The proposal aims to provide immediate safety for Palestinians who already have family connections in the UK.
Support from the Scottish Government
The Scottish Government has echoed the call for a family visa scheme for family members of British people in Gaza.
Scottish Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart pressed for the creation of safe routes for Palestinians fleeing Gaza.
In a letter to the UK Minister for Asylum and Border Security, she described the existing asylum pathways as “insufficient and failing.”
Many Palestinian families, even those eligible under existing visa routes, cannot access support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
Stewart pointed out that the sole UK Visa Application Centre in Gaza has closed down due to the situation.
Additionally, the Home Office still requires fingerprinting for visa applications, which is now impossible for these individuals.
Since 7 October 2023, many have requested to defer this biometric requirement, but all have been rejected.
Many have been forced to crowdfund or pay high fees to help their family leave Gaza and complete biometric processing in Egypt.
However, since May 2024, very few have managed to leave Gaza due to the closure of the Rafah crossing towards Egypt.
Minister Stewart’s letter underscored the urgency of the matter as the situation in Gaza leaves many families in a dire situation.
It highlighted the struggles that Palestinian families face as they seek safety amidst the ongoing violence.
Scotland’s former First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also support the Gaza Family Visa Scheme.
Comparisons to the Ukraine Family Scheme
Proponents of the Gaza Family Visa Scheme argue that a similar initiative worked successfully in 2022 during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Ukraine Family Scheme enabled Ukrainian citizens with UK relatives to apply for visas to live, work, and study in Britain for three years.
Supporters believe that the Gaza Family Visa Scheme could provide similar relief and temporary sanctuary in a time of extreme need.
It can help ensure that Palestinians in Gaza with loved ones in the UK can escape immediate danger.
Since February 2024, the Ukraine Family Visa scheme has been closed to new applicants, but the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme remains open.
The Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme allows Ukrainians to live with a sponsoring family in the UK.
Another visa route, the Ukraine Extension Scheme, allowed Ukrainians with permission to stay in the UK from 18 March 2022 to 16 November 2023 to extend their stay.
As of 16 May 2024, this route has closed for children born in the UK.
Those granted permission under any of the three Ukraine visa schemes may apply to extend their stay for an additional 18 months, with applications opening in early 2025.
Challenges and government response
Some critics of the proposed Gaza Family Visa Scheme noted that the situation in Gaza and Ukraine is not the same.
While both situations share parallels, they differ in scale and security considerations.
Despite mounting pressure, the UK Government has not announced concrete plans for a Gaza Family Visa Scheme.
Cross-party support for the scheme has been growing, with MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Alliance Party backing the motion.
Advocacy groups have also voiced their support, emphasizing the moral obligation to protect vulnerable civilians during times of war.
Conversely, some critics worry about the long-term implications of introducing such a program.
Concerns about vetting and the broader impact on immigration policy remain topics of debate.
Critics of the proposal, like Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, argue that the scheme could pose security risks.
Farage referenced statistics from Denmark, claiming that 64 percent of the country’s 321 Palestinians from 1992 have been convicted of a crime.
Proponents of the Gaza Family Visa Scheme stressed that it would apply only to individuals with established family ties in the UK.
Advocates argue that this measure could prevent abuse while addressing urgent humanitarian needs.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates, the push for a Gaza Family Visa Scheme reflects growing pressure on the UK Government to act.
While the proposal has received significant support, challenges remain in ensuring its safety, effectiveness, and public acceptance.
For now, many Palestinians with family in the UK remain in limbo, waiting to see if this initiative will provide them a much-needed lifeline.