Today with the agreement of the Education Secretary, Health Secretary, Home Secretary and Housing Secretary, I am making the following statement:

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains deeply concerning. The Government is committed to providing practical support to those most affected by the conflict and to contributing to the longer term recovery of Palestinian society.

Student departures

The UK Government has confirmed renewed support for high achieving students from Gaza to take up fully funded scholarships at UK universities for the 2026/27 academic year.

This will build on support already provided by the government in the current academic year, through which we have enabled over 100 students from Gaza to travel to the UK to pursue their studies. The Government will continue to prioritise students who hold fully funded and verifiable scholarships, and who meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

This targeted approach ensures that students supported will have the financial means to study and live in the UK. Eligible dependants will be supported in line with the Immigration Rules.

This also includes eligible Chevening scholars, who will be supported to take up their places at UK universities where possible, recognising their leadership potential and the important role they can play in the future of Palestinian society.

The Government will work closely with Devolved Governments, universities, international partners and relevant authorities to facilitate departures and onward travel. However, departures from Gaza remain highly complex and dependent on factors outside the UK Government’s control. As such, travel and timelines cannot be guaranteed.

All individuals travelling to the UK under this route will be subject to robust security and immigration checks, including the provision of biometric data prior to travel.

This programme reflects the UK’s enduring commitment to education as a driver of opportunity, stability and future leadership, and forms part of broader efforts to support the development of a future Palestinian state.

Medical evacuations (MedEvac)

The Government has also confirmed the resumption of UK supported medical evacuations of critically ill and injured children and their immediate families from Gaza, following a pause due to the regional conflict.

In 2025, a cross-Government effort supported the evacuation of 50 children, alongside their immediate family members, to receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the United Kingdom. Building on this, the Government will now facilitate further evacuations for those identified as in need of urgent medical care.

Patients will be identified through established processes, including collaboration with the World Health Organization to match children with specialist care teams within the NHS.

Recognising the severe degradation of healthcare provision in Gaza, this programme enables access to specialist treatment that is not currently available locally. It also reflects the compassion and expertise of the NHS in supporting some of the most vulnerable children affected by the conflict.

Individuals arriving under this scheme will be granted temporary permission to stay in the UK, including access to appropriate healthcare and support. All arrivals will be subject to stringent security screening, including biometric checks, in line with standard requirements to protect the public.

Conclusion

Together, these measures demonstrate the Government’s continued commitment to providing immediate humanitarian assistance, while supporting the longer-term resilience and recovery of Palestinian society through education and healthcare.

A policy statement setting out more details will shortly be published on Gov.uk. The Government will keep these arrangements under close review in light of ongoing developments.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2026-06-24.hcws144.0