Up to 50 children from Gaza could be evacuated to the UK for medical treatment by the end of the month, but biometric hurdles mean the most serious cases may not make it.
The children will receive NHS care and travel with one parent or caregiver under the scheme, which was announced by the UK government earlier this month.
Participants in the arrangement told The National the Gazan children in greatest need are first selected by doctors and then given permission to travel by the Cogat bureaucracy in Israel’s Ministry of Defence, which co-ordinates their travel with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The UK can evacuate children who are already on the WHO's list, the source explained. But there are concerns that the most urgent cases – such as severe burns – will be not make it to the UK’s selection, as the Home Office requires the children to travel to Jordan or Egypt to have their biometric details processed for their visa.
Children approved for medical evacuation by the Israeli authorities exit Gaza through the border crossings to Israel, where they are then evacuated to the country where they will be treated. But the UK’s biometric requirements mean they will also need to make the stopover in Amman or Cairo. The Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care have been contacted for comment.
This process has excluded Palestinian children from treatment in the UK in the past, according to Omar Din, a UK medical professional who has been co-ordinating medical evacuations for Palestinian children to Europe.
Earlier this year the UK responded to calls to evacuate Hatem, a two-year old orphan with 35 per cent burns, and Karam, a baby who suffered from an easily treatable birth defect. But it then acted too slowly, and Italy took the children instead, alongside 15 others, in an emergency evacuation on June 11.
Italy has waived its biometric requirement and brought over 180 children and adults from Gaza in 14 evacuations. MPs called on the UK government to bring the sick children “without delay” this week, as the humanitarian crisis escalates and famine has been declared.
Among their demands was to “waive the biometric requirements for evacuees under this scheme”, in a letter signed by 96 cross-party MPs. “The requirement for biometrics as a prerequisite to issue visas remains a major barrier, given that the only authorised biometrics centre in Gaza closed in October 2023,” the group warned.
“We urge you to waive biometric requirements for evacuees under this scheme and permit applications to be completed after departure from Gaza.” They also said it was “vital” for the children’s carers or parents to accompany them to the UK and be with them during treatment.
“There is clear medical evidence to suggest their presence can positively impact the recovery of sick or injured children,” they said. The UK government has said it will allow one caregiver to travel with the child.
The UK’s decision to treat Palestinian children on the NHS came after over 18 months of campaigning from MPs and British doctors. So far, 7,528 patients have been evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment, according to the WHO. But only three are currently being treated in the UK.
Since July 2024, the treatment has been mainly for trauma (712 cases) and cancer (660), followed by eye disorders (250), birth defects (240) and heart disease (208).
Project Pure Hope had raised the funds to treat up to 50 children privately but it took them 19 months to get their first visa. It now has three Palestinian children in the UK for private treatment and hopes to continue running its scheme in parallel to the UK government.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The%20specs
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The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Company%20profile
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Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Titan Sports Academy:
Programmes: Judo, wrestling, kick-boxing, muay thai, taekwondo and various summer camps
Location: Inside Abu Dhabi City Golf Club, Al Mushrif, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone: 971 50 220 0326
