Two critically ill children from Gaza have arrived in Scotland to receive urgent medical care, marking the first patients brought to the country under a UK-wide initiative to support Palestinian youngsters amid the ongoing Gaza war. The focus keyword “Gaza children treatment in Scotland” reflects the humanitarian nature of the mission.
Scottish Health Secretary Neil Gray confirmed that Scotland has committed to treating up to 20 Palestinian children in the coming weeks. The programme is being coordinated by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Home Office, and the Department of Health, with Scotland providing accommodation and healthcare for patients and their families.
Scotland Pushes UK to Do More
Gray said it was “right that Scotland welcomes these children and their families” after the “deep trauma and horrendous conditions” they have endured in Gaza. He added that Scotland had pressed the UK government to step up its humanitarian response, describing the move as “a small step towards restoring some humanity to the catastrophic situation in Gaza.”
The Health Secretary also stressed that the process is highly sensitive, with local health boards and councils working to ensure families have suitable housing and the medical support they require. “These arrivals from Gaza will have complex care needs, and their safety and wellbeing are our top priority,” he said, calling for privacy for the families.
Wider UK Efforts to Support Palestinian Families
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed on Sunday that ill and injured children had been evacuated from Gaza, though she did not confirm numbers. BBC News reported that between 30 and 50 children are expected in the first group, with some heading to Scotland and others to hospitals across the UK.
While private groups such as Project Pure Hope have previously helped bring children from Gaza to Britain for treatment, this marks the first evacuation coordinated directly by the UK government during the conflict.
Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The arrival of Palestinian children in the UK comes against the backdrop of worsening conditions in Gaza. The territory’s health ministry reports that at least 142 people have died from starvation and malnutrition since a UN-backed report confirmed famine in Gaza City on 22 August.
Earlier this year, the World Health Organization warned that Israel’s offensive had stretched Gaza’s health system “beyond breaking point.” Israel disputes the figures but says it is expanding aid efforts.
The war began after Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry says at least 64,803 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, with tens of thousands more wounded.
The UK’s decision to offer treatment to Gaza’s most vulnerable children highlights growing humanitarian concerns and Scotland’s role in supporting international relief efforts.
