The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, a British-Palestinian group, has written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for an “urgent meeting” about Gaza and urging the UK government to “use its influence” to demand a ceasefire. The group, which says it is acting “on behalf of members of the Palestinian community in the UK with families and loved ones living in Gaza,” argues that humanitarian pauses are “inadequate” and that the government’s failure to call for a ceasefire “is putting our loved ones in danger and is contributing to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.”
The ICJP has requested a meeting “to express our concerns, similar to the meetings you have had with other British communities who have families in the region who have experienced distress similar to ours.” Six British-Palestinians have also held a press conference in London, where they described the deaths of dozens of their own family members in Gaza.
A spokesperson for the UK government stated that it had “helped more than 150 British nationals and dependents to leave Gaza so far,” and emphasised the need for “humanitarian pauses” to allow release of hostages and aid to enter. The Foreign Office is working with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to facilitate the exit of remaining British nationals and their dependants, the spokpesperson noted.
Meanwhile, accountant Omar Mofeed has criticised the UK government for double standards in the treatment of evacuees from Gaza, noting that non-British family members of UK nationals had to apply for British family visas from Egypt. By contrast, thanks to visa schemes such as the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme and the Ukraine Family Scheme, those fleeing war in Ukraine can apply for free visas. The Foreign Office has stated that it is co-operating with the Home Office to issue visas to non-British family members of those who have left Gaza
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