Court quashes block on mothers and children in Gaza joining families in UK
Summary
A UK court ruled that the government's decision to stop mothers and children in Gaza from joining their families in the UK was unlawful. The families are living in very poor and unsafe conditions, and the court said the children’s best interests must come first. The UK government plans to appeal this decision.Key Facts
- The UK Home Office blocked some mothers and children in Gaza from reuniting with family in the UK.
- Gaza’s visa application center has been closed since October 2023, making it hard to complete biometric checks like fingerprinting.
- A judge in the upper tribunal ruled the Home Office acted unlawfully in blocking two families with young children.
- The affected families live in tents with poor conditions, risks of illness, and danger from the conflict in Gaza.
- About 250-300 people in Gaza are waiting to reunite with family who have refugee status in the UK.
- The UK government says biometrics must be done before travel, and the Foreign Office has offered to evacuate some families to Jordan to complete this.
- The Home Office announced new refugee resettlement routes but suspended the larger family reunion scheme, with no restart until at least 2027.
- The court emphasized the children’s best interests and health, calling the current separation harmful.
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