Policy paper

UK Government response to the situation in Gaza: policy summary

Published 14 September 2025

In his statement published on 24 July 2025, the Prime Minister highlighted the worsening situation in Gaza, describing it as a “humanitarian catastrophe”. The full statement can be read here: PM statement on Gaza: 24 July 2025 - GOV.UK.

Political and diplomatic efforts continue to secure a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, alongside work to restore a framework for peace. The support that is outlined below for specific cohorts to leave Gaza is one contribution amongst several to alleviate the human suffering in Gaza and efforts towards a political solution.

Over the past two years, the UK has provided £241m in total Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), including £154m in humanitarian funding. Our response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has included the provision of food, water and sanitation and medical supplies and support to healthcare facilities.

The UK has also provided significant support to the Palestinian Authority and supported their reform efforts and has provided support to the West Bank and Palestinian refugees across the region including restoring funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

In this context this statement provides an update on measures being taken to provide immediate support to certain groups.

1.1 Medical Evacuations

The situation for those critically ill in Gaza is dire. All hospitals are either damaged or partly destroyed, with the vast majority unable to function. Essential medicines and supplies are running out and medical workers are not able to do their jobs safely.

On that basis, the Government has committed to evacuate a limited number of sick and injured children out of Gaza to receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK. All children will be accompanied by their immediate family, which means parents and siblings under 18. Where both parents are deceased, they must be accompanied by a responsible adult such as a legal guardian. 

The Government is partnering with the World Health Organization, which works on the ground and plays a critical role in supporting medical evacuations from Gaza. Participation in the evacuation is solely through the WHO supported process, and the UK Government cannot consider direct requests for assistance.

It is expected that an initial cohort of children and their immediate families will be evacuated from Gaza to the UK in the coming days. Further patient arrivals are expected later in the Autumn. However, this is necessarily subject to change given the volatile situation on the ground. 

The Government is working closely with local authorities to make sure both the children and their immediate families receive the help and support they need for the duration of their time in the UK.

Further information on the medical evaluation of Gazan children can be found in a statement made by Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 1 September 2025: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

1.2 Gaza Full Scholarships

There are students in Gaza, with full scholarships to study in the UK, who are currently unable to travel to begin their studies this Autumn because of the situation there.  The Government has outlined plans to support the departure from Gaza of a group of Chevening Scholars so they can take up university places in the UK in the Autumn for the 2025/26 academic year. We are extending this support to students in Gaza with full scholarships, meaning students who have their course fees and living costs fully funded by an official financial sponsor, as specified in the Immigration Rules.

In the case of those entering the UK as part of the medical evacuations, or via the support being provided to those with scholarships, all individuals will be subject to robust security checks and have to submit their biometrics ahead of travel. This maintains the vital processes that are routinely applied to protect the UK public from individuals who pose any national security, criminality or safeguarding risks

1.3 Consular Assistance and Support

The Government will continue to support British nationals, their dependants and other eligible people who wish to leave Gaza to do so, in line with our published Travel Advice: The Occupied Palestinian Territories Travel Advice. Since the start of the conflict, the Government has assisted more than 500 people, including more than 300 British nationals and their dependants, to leave Gaza.

However, the situation on the ground in Gaza makes such assisted departures extremely challenging. There are currently no exit routes available to depart Gaza independently, since the Israeli military took control of the Rafah crossing on 6 May 2024. The UK does not control the route: Israeli permissions and the active engagement of other authorities in the region are required, impacting on the numbers of individuals the UK is able to support.

We therefore continue to advise against all travel to Gaza and are clear about the limited options for those who wish to leave.

The FCDO’s published policy sets out that in a crisis abroad we can usually provide help to:

• British nationals
• British nationals with another nationality: ‘dual nationals’

In some circumstances we can also help:

• nationals of other Commonwealth countries, in places where their country does not have a local embassy or consulate
• during a crisis or large-scale incident, non-British immediate family members (e.g. spouse or partner and children under 18, if the British national is a child under 18 then their parents and siblings under 18) travelling with a British national

We make decisions about who we can help based on the specific circumstances of the person or people involved.

Guidance on FCDO consular policy can be viewed here: If you’re affected by a crisis abroad.