Yvette Cooper confirms first group of Gazan children heading to UK for NHS treatment

By Ciaran McGrath, Senior News Reporter

KHAN YUNIS, GAZA - SEPTEMBER 13: Displaced Palestinian children look on as they struggle to survive (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Yvette Cooper has confirmed that the first group of seriously ill and injured Palestinian children has been evacuated from Gaza and is on its way to Britain for NHS treatment. The Foreign Secretary said the youngsters had left the devastated territory and were en route to the UK, where they will receive specialist care.

The transfer marks the start of a Government programme to bring critically ill children out of the conflict zone. Before reaching Britain, the patients are being stabilised by medical teams in a neighbouring country, a step made necessary by the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. Years of blockade, compounded by the current war, have left hospitals unable to cope, with thousands of children suffering long-term conditions cut off from vital treatment.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper (Image: Getty)

The UK has been working with international partners to push through the transfers.

Unicef estimates that more than 50,000 children have been killed or injured since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the Israeli military response that followed.

Ms Cooper told the Daily Mirror: "We are working to get injured children out of Gaza, to be able to help them in the UK. The first group of children now have left Gaza and are on the way, travelling now to the UK."

She also confirmed that talks are under way to help Palestinian students with places at British universities. She explained: "It’s a lot of diplomatic work in order to help them actually leave Gaza and then also travel through other countries in order to be able to get to the UK.

Physiotherapist discusses horrors on Gaza on GMB

"But that work is underway and I’m determined to make sure that we can do our bit to help those injured families and also to help students get into their courses this autumn."

The process requires Israeli approval at every stage, and children may be accompanied by relatives when necessary. Biometric checks will be carried out in a third country as part of the clearance procedure.

The exact number of children in this first group has not been disclosed, though earlier estimates suggested between 30 and 50. This is the first official scheme to bring Palestinian children to Britain specifically for NHS treatment.

Some youngsters have previously been evacuated privately with the support of the charity Project Pure Hope, a volunteer-led initiative of British medics. However, the current effort is the first coordinated, government-backed programme.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged in July that the UK would step up assistance for Gaza’s most vulnerable children, acknowledging growing public concern. In August, ministers set out a dedicated scheme to provide free NHS treatment for those evacuated.

A Foreign Office source said: "We are working with the WHO (World Health Organisation) to get critically ill and injured children into the UK where they will receive specialist NHS treatment, with the first patients expected to arrive in the UK in the coming days."

Officials have not yet given details of the next round of evacuations but say wider diplomatic efforts continue, including calls for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

A government spokesperson said: “As announced by the Prime Minister on July 25, the UK is medically evacuating Gazan children for treatment in the UK.

“This support comes as the humanitarian situation continues to leave many in urgent need of medical care, with most hospitals in Gaza no longer functioning and essential medical supplies running out.