First Gaza children head to UK for medical care, officials say

The United Kingdom’s health ministry says the first group of sick and injured children from Gaza are en route to Britain for urgent medical care.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer first outlined the plan in July, pledging to bring Palestinian children to the UK as hospitals inside Gaza struggle to function.

Officials say the programme has become critical, with shortages of medicines and supplies in the enclave and doctors unable to work safely.

A health ministry statement said the children will travel with close family members and are expected to arrive “in the coming weeks”. No flight details have been released, with the ministry citing “operational security reasons”.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Daily Mirror on Friday that the first group “have left Gaza and are on the way... to the UK”.

The newspaper reported that the children are currently receiving care in another country in the region before continuing on to Britain.