In the days before the petition reached its deadline, the Big Issue published a series of articles speaking to people living in Britain who felt “helpless” and “betrayed” by the UK government.
Roba, a British citizen from Palestine, said: “People always wanted to stay in Gaza, but with how violent this war is and the destruction it has caused, leaving is the only option.”
She felt a deep sense of helplessness when her family was in Gaza. There were days when they lost communication and she did not know whether they were alive.
“It was hell on earth,” Roba, 31, says. “There was continuous bombardment everywhere in each place of displacement. They were facing horrors, continuous bombing and shortage of food, water, medicine, everything.”
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Hala, a company in Egypt, is charging $5,000 for the evacuation of a person over the age of 16 and $2,500 for a child. Roba felt she had no choice but to pay to get them out.
More than 75 organisations, funders and law firms have backed the campaign, calling for sanctuary for Palestinians with UK-based family members until it is safe to return.
The Home Office said it has no plans to set this up – but after the petition reached 100,000 signatures, a debate has to be held in parliament and is scheduled for Monday (13 May).
Last month, the Home Office lost a legal case against two Palestinian families from Gaza, where judges ruled its refusal to consider visa applications that would reunite their families was “irrational”.
Ahmed told the Big Issue how he has 15 family members trapped in Gaza. Their homes are destroyed. Every day is a mission to survive.
He has lived in the UK for seven years, including while he was studying for a PhD at the University of Cambridge and now as an academic at the University of Dundee.
He wants to be reunited with his family and to ensure their safety in the UK until they can return to Gaza. The Home Office has stopped this, so his only option is to raise thousands to get them into Egypt.
“I face daily frustration, depression and mental health issues,” Ahmed, 32, said. “I thought I was a strong person, but this is taking a serious toll. I feel helpless.”
The spokesperson for the Gaza Families Reunited Campaign said: “Reaching over 100,000 signatures on the petition showcased the extent of solidarity that exists across the UK with members of the Palestinian community in the UK wishing to reunite with their loved ones.
“We hope this will encourage politicians in Westminster to recognise both the public support and urgent need for a viable scheme to reunite Palestinian families from Gaza.”
“The British government has previously offered sanctuary to Ukrainian families. All we are asking is that the same opportunity is afforded to Palestinians fleeing Israeli bombardment and starvation and seeking to reunite with their loved ones.
“The UK government has a moral obligation to create a Gaza Family Scheme to enable Palestinians in the UK to bring their loved ones to safety until it is safe to return.”
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