As the ongoing crisis in Gaza unfolds, Palestinian families residing in the UK are in a race against time to bring their loved ones to safety. Recently, we celebrated a successful family reunification, only to be met with harsh criticism from political and media figures alike.
The focus of the UK government, media, and even the Prime Minister on a so-called “loophole” has overlooked a dire reality. A family from Gaza—a mother, father, and their four children—managed to secure residency in the UK through a scheme intended for Ukrainian families. This is because, sadly, there is no specific program for reuniting Gaza families, forcing them to navigate a complex immigration system that doesn’t provide a safe, clear path.
Here’s how it happened: the family’s legal team did not seek entry via the Ukrainian route but used that application form to file under human rights conditions, as there’s no form designed for Palestinians. The court supported their argument based on article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which emphasizes the right to family life. The judge emphasized that the Ukrainian scheme was not pertinent, yet Keir Starmer has pledged to rectify this “loophole.” Meanwhile, media outlets demonize the family’s success, using phrases like “opening the floodgates” to justify harsh policies.
For me, as a Palestinian from Gaza, this isn’t just an abstract debate—it’s personal. My own family—my parents and siblings—have endured unimaginable hardships: six months of ongoing violence, displacement from their home multiple times, surviving bombings, starvation, and terror. They managed to escape to Egypt, where they have no legal standing. They deserve safety here, with family, after all they’ve endured. Yet, I’ve found myself clashing with a hostile UK immigration system, desperately trying to secure their safety.
Rather than acknowledging a moral and legal responsibility to provide safe pathways for reunification, the government has chosen to stir up outrage over a legal ruling that affirmed a fundamental right. This decision could have sparked new measures to create a Gaza family reunification scheme. Instead, there’s a push to block any hopes for safety, which only fuels anti-Palestinian sentiment and puts more inhumane policies in place. All we ask is for our families to be safe, but we face closed doors.
The Gaza Families Reunited campaign, joined by 350 UK-based families, continues advocating for immediate family reunification measures. The government’s inaction leaves families stuck, struggling through endless legal and bureaucratic obstacles just to see their loved ones again.
The disparity between the UK’s response to Ukrainian refugees and its stance on Palestinians is stark. In response to Russia’s invasion, the UK promptly developed a program for Ukrainian families. Meanwhile, Palestinians—in the face of 15 months of genocide, starvation, and mass displacement—are left without any dedicated path for reunification.
This isn’t about choosing to seek refuge; it’s about the inherent right to family unity. Despite article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Palestinians endure protracted legal battles merely to be together. The legal process is arduous, and many families lack the resources to even start applications.
Reuniting families is about more than just ensuring their immediate safety—it’s about dignity, healing, and justice. The Gaza Families Reunited campaign seeks not to permanently settle in the UK but to stay united with their families while Gaza remains unsafe.
Israel’s systematic displacement—through military force, starvation, or forced exile—violates international laws. The UK cannot uphold international law while denying Palestinians safe passage and family unity.
Families in the UK watch helplessly as their loved ones in Gaza face constant threats. They deserve the right to reunite, to heal, and to find safety together until they can safely return home.
Ghassan Ghaben is a member of the Gaza Families Reunited campaign.
Have thoughts on this piece? You’re invited to share your response, up to 300 words, via email for a chance to be published in our letters section.
