In a stark reminder of the devastating toll of war on civilians, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced on Monday that the United Kingdom is working to evacuate critically ill and injured children from the war-torn Gaza Strip to receive urgent, specialised treatment in British hospitals.
The first group of patients, he confirmed, is expected to arrive in the UK in the coming weeks.
Lammy’s statement came with strong criticism of Israel’s continued restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, which he described as a “manmade famine in the 21st century.
” Addressing the British Parliament, he said, “I’m outraged by the Israeli government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid in. This is not a natural disaster; it’s a tragedy created by human decisions. And it is innocent civilians, particularly children, who are paying the price.”
Calls for Ceasefire and Urgent Humanitarian Action
Lammy reiterated that “the only way out” of the spiralling humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is an immediate ceasefire, urging the international community to intensify efforts to stop the bloodshed and deliver aid to those trapped in unimaginable conditions.
To bolster medical relief efforts, the UK has pledged an additional £15 million ($20 million) for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and neighbouring regions. British authorities are also working to expedite visas for Palestinians in urgent need of treatment abroad and for students from Gaza who were granted scholarships to study in the UK this autumn.
“We are facing a crisis where thousands of civilians are being bombed, starved, and left without medical care. A massive humanitarian response is essential to prevent even more deaths,” Lammy said, echoing warnings from global agencies.
Famine and the Rising Civilian Toll
The announcement follows a report by the world’s leading food crisis authority in late August, confirming that famine has gripped Gaza’s largest city.
The war has left entire neighbourhoods flattened, medical infrastructure decimated, and food and water supplies critically low. Aid agencies have repeatedly warned that without immediate intervention, the death toll—already horrifyingly high—will continue to rise.
“These are not just statistics,” Lammy told lawmakers. “Each number represents a family torn apart, a child who may never see adulthood, a parent left to bury their loved ones. This is what wars do. It is always the innocent who suffer the most.”
Focus on Students and Medical Evacuations
British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that officials are accelerating visa processing for Palestinians being evacuated, including family members of those receiving treatment or education. Although exact numbers are being withheld for security reasons,
British media have reported that nine Chevening scholars—recipients of prestigious UK government-funded scholarships—are among those awaiting evacuation.
Dozens of other Palestinian students offered places at British universities remain stranded in Gaza, their academic futures uncertain amid the ongoing conflict.
Cooper emphasized that, while the situation is “sensitive and highly complex,” the UK remains committed to assisting as many civilians as possible.
The UK has also been supporting medical relief efforts on the ground by funding field hospital operations in Gaza through partner charities and working closely with the World Health Organization to treat some of the estimated 8,000 Gazans evacuated to Egypt for urgent care.
Global Response and the Human Cost of War
Britain’s initiative comes as other European nations, including Italy, have also begun airlifting sick children and students from the besieged enclave. Yet humanitarian groups warn that evacuations alone cannot address the crisis at its core.
The escalating death toll in Gaza serves as a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of war. Civilian lives—especially those of children—are being obliterated in a conflict where access to necessities like food, water, and medical care has been weaponised.
The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene decisively, not only to deliver aid but to bring about an end to the violence.
“The horror we are witnessing in Gaza today will haunt our collective conscience for generations,” Lammy said. “We must do everything in our power to ensure that help reaches those who need it most, and that this cycle of suffering is brought to an end.”