May 13th - Palestinian Refugee Family Scheme Debate

Dear [MP’s Name],

As the upcoming parliamentary debate on May 13th, 4:30pm at Westminster Hall approaches, I am writing to call on you to support the introduction of a Gaza Family Scheme for Palestinians.

In addition to more than 100,000 members of the British public, this plea is already backed by 75 reputable institutions, including law centres, law firms, and foundations working tirelessly in the migrants’ (including refugees’), children’s, and human rights’ sectors across the UK.

As you will be aware, the situation in Gaza is dire, with each passing hour bringing further suffering to innocent civilians. The recent escalation of violence, combined with severe restrictions on access to basic necessities like food and medication, has resulted in the loss of more than 40,000 lives, including over 15,000 children, as reported by EuroMed. Palestinians in Gaza are currently facing the imminent threat of a ground assault on Rafah, despite widespread international condemnation, including from the British Government.

Existing immigration routes present insurmountable obstacles for Palestinians seeking to reunite with their loved ones in the UK. The requirement to enrol biometrics poses a significant challenge, exacerbated by the fact that Palestinians can only do so at visa application centres in Egypt. Unlike British nationals, Palestinians are not provided with safe passage to Egypt by the British Government, leaving them trapped in a dire situation where they are unable to comply with entry requirements.

Families are resorting to setting up crowdfunders to cover the exorbitant costs of evacuation to Egypt by private companies. Even if successful, not all family members are eligible under existing routes, and additional visa fees further compound the financial burden. Tragically, two individuals have lost their lives while awaiting decisions on their family reunion visas.

In light of these challenges, I urge you to support the introduction of a Palestinian Family Scheme during the parliamentary debate on May 13th. This scheme, modelled after the successful Ukraine Family Scheme, would provide a lifeline to Palestinians in Gaza, enabling them to reunite with their immediate and extended family members in the UK and providing them with temporary sanctuary and access to work, study, and public funds. 

It is clear that urgent action is needed to protect human life and uphold the right to family unity until it is safe for Palestinians to return.

Therefore, I implore you to champion the introduction of a Palestinian Family Scheme during the parliamentary debate on May 13th. Failing to do so would be a missed opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to humanitarian values and to address the urgent needs of Palestinian families. The Ukrainian scheme has set the precedent for this proposal to be successfully accepted, upholding the consistency of compassion for affected civilian lives.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I eagerly await your response and hope to see you stand in Parliament to back this essential move.

Your constituent,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Contact Information]