- Government coordinates safe arrival of severely ill Gazan
children in the UK
- More patients and their immediate families are expected in
the coming weeks
- UK continues to push Israel to ensure better protection for
healthcare workers and medical infrastructure in Gaza
Severely ill children from Gaza requiring urgent medical
treatment recently arrived safely in the UK with their immediate
families.
As part of the Gaza medical evacuation operation, these young
patients are now receiving the urgent medical care they need at
NHS hospitals, while their immediate family members are
getting appropriate support during their stay.
The healthcare situation in Gaza remains incredibly difficult,
with many unable to access even a basic level of care and
increased difficulties for those who require specialist treatment
and support.
A cross-government taskforce has been working intensively over
recent weeks to coordinate this complex humanitarian operation.
The children and their immediate family members were evacuated
from Gaza to Jordan, where they were supported by British Embassy
staff and robust security checks were undertaken prior to their
arrival into the UK.
Health and Social Care secretary, , said:
No one can fail to be distressed by the devastating impact the
war has had on the children of Gaza, and I cannot imagine the
fear and anguish their families have endured. It is a
soul-destroying situation that compels us to act.
Every child deserves the chance to heal, to play, to simply be
able to dream again. These young patients have witnessed horrors
no child should ever see, but this marks the start of their
journey towards recovery.
This reflects the very best of our NHS values - compassion, care
and expertise when it matters most.
Foreign Secretary said:
Children are too often the innocent victims of war. In Gaza,
where the healthcare system has been decimated and hospitals are
no longer functioning, there are severely ill children unable to
get the medical care they need to survive.
As we welcome the first group of children to the UK for urgent
treatment, their arrival reflects our determined commitment to
humanitarian action and the power of international cooperation.
We continue to call for the protection of medical infrastructure
and health workers in Gaza, and for a huge increase in
medicines and supplies to be allowed in.
The Government is grateful to all partners who have assisted this
operation, including the World Health Organisation for their
support with the evacuation process, the Government of Jordan and
Royal Jordanian for facilitating safe transit and the
UK-Emergency Medical Team and NHS clinical teams for their
dedication in providing life-saving medical care to these young
patients.
More patients and their immediate families are expected in the
coming weeks as part of this humanitarian mission.
Professor Meghana Pandit, NHS National Medical Director, said:
These children are severely unwell and in need of urgent medical
treatment, and we will do all we can to help provide them with a
safe and secure place to receive the vital care and treatment
they so desperately need.
NHS specialists at hospitals across the country are providing
crucial treatment to help these children and their families – and
we are incredibly grateful to hospitals, staff and volunteers who
are supporting these efforts.
These patients and their families have suffered an unimaginable
ordeal and their privacy is paramount. For this reason, the
Government will not be providing further details about their
treatment or whereabouts to protect patient confidentiality and
their personal safety.
The UK continues to urge the Government of Israel to allow Gazans
to receive vital healthcare, including a scaling up of medical
evacuations and allowing medicines and supplies into Gaza.
The government is clear on the need for an immediate ceasefire,
the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, the
unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and a path to a
two-state solution.
ENDS
## Notes to editors:
- The Prime Minister announced this medical
evacuation on 25 July 2025.
- The UK is working with the WHO, which plays a critical role
in supporting medical evacuations from Gaza
- This is a publicly funded humanitarian mission
- Children are accompanied by their immediate family members,
including parents or guardians and siblings under 18
- The safety, privacy and wellbeing of these severely ill and
vulnerable patients and their families remains our absolute
priority. To protect patient confidentiality, we will not be
providing further operational details about their treatment or
whereabouts.
- For further information please see the UK's response to the
situation in Gaza.
