Gaza: Refugees
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many evacuations from Gaza to the UK of (a) British nationals including dual Palestinian and British nationals, (b) their immediate family members, (c) UK visa holders who have spouses or partners or children under 18 living in the UK who have valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for longer than 6 months and (d) UK visa holders who have valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for longer than 6 months granted outside the Immigration Rules or on the basis of Article 8 ECHR have been facilitated by his Department since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Mr Hamish Falconer
The UK Government has helped 505 people to leave Gaza since October 2023. 306 are British nationals and their Palestinian dependants; 38 are Palestinian nationals who qualified for assistance under the extended eligibility criteria for Gaza published on 14 December 2023. Israeli exit clearance was sought and received in each of those cases. The extended eligibility criteria are published on FCDO Travel Advice and provide for the UK Government to try to support the exit of Palestinian nationals who have a spouse, partner or a child aged 17 or under living in the UK; and who hold valid permission to enter or remain in the UK for longer than 6 months. Border crossings out of Gaza have been closed to civilians since Israel took control of Rafah crossing in May 2024. Nevertheless, the FCDO has helped 21 people to leave Gaza, mostly children, since October 2024.
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