Create a Palestinian Family Visa Scheme for Palestinian people affected by war
This petition gathered 103,834 signatures between 18 October 2023 and 18 April 2024, according to the Parliament petitions site. The Government responded on 21 December 2023. MPs debated it in Westminster Hall on 13 May 2024.
The petition
The petition's creator is not named in the Petitions site's published record. Quoted in full from the UK Parliament petitions site.
Create a Palestinian Family Visa Scheme for Palestinian people affected by war
We want the government to take action and create a Visa scheme that allows Palestinian individuals affected by war, to be allowed into the UK. Just like we did for Ukraine.
This visa would provide them with an opportunity to seek refuge and reunite with their families safely in the UK. By implementing this visa, the government can demonstrate its commitment to compassion, inclusivity, and supporting those who have endured the hardships of war. Together, let's urge the government to enact policies that provide a lifeline for Palestinians seeking safety and a chance to rebuild their lives safely.
The Government's response
The Government published its response on 21 December 2023; the petitions site lists the Home Office as responsible. Its summary:
There are no plans to introduce bespoke arrangements for people arriving from the region. Those wishing to come to the UK who currently have no visa can apply under one of the existing visa routes.
The response in full:
The UK Government is monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza closely to ensure that it is able to respond appropriately.
We recognise that some people impacted by the events in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories may wish to join family in the UK. The Government is working with authorities across the region to facilitate the repatriation of British citizens and their family members who already hold permission to come to the UK.
There are currently no plans to introduce bespoke arrangements for people arriving from the region who do not hold permission to come to the UK. That means that immediate family members of British citizens, and those settled in the UK, who wish to come and live in the UK and do not have a current UK visa can apply under one of the existing family visa routes. Individuals who meet these criteria should apply for a visa to enable them to enter the UK in the normal way. Fee waivers are available to those who can not afford the application fee, and exceptional circumstances may be taken into account where certain requirements are not met.
UK Visas and Immigration is working closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in supporting family members of British nationals evacuated from Gaza who require a visa, signposting the necessary steps and expediting appointments at the Visa Application Centre (VAC). VACs in the region such as Egypt, Jordan and Turkey are open and offering a full service.
Since 2015, over half a million people were offered safe and legal routes into the UK. This includes over 28,600 individuals resettled to the UK under its global UNHCR resettlement schemes, which include the UK Resettlement Scheme, Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. However, our approach must be considered in the round, rather than on a crisis-by-crisis basis.
Home Office
Where the signatures came from
Signatures came from 650 constituencies on the boundaries used until the 2024 general election. The largest number, 1,376, came from Bethnal Green and Bow.
102,831 of the signatures were from the UK and 1,003 from elsewhere, by the location signers gave.
| Constituency | Signatures |
|---|---|
| Bethnal Green and Bow | 1,376 |
| Hackney North and Stoke Newington | 1,199 |
| Hackney South and Shoreditch | 1,034 |
| Poplar and Limehouse | 1,012 |
| Lewisham, Deptford | 1,011 |
| Camberwell and Peckham | 927 |
| Walthamstow | 901 |
| Tottenham | 874 |
| Holborn and St Pancras | 843 |
| Ilford South | 825 |
| Region | Signatures |
|---|---|
| London | 33,243 |
| South East | 10,959 |
| Scotland | 10,520 |
| North West | 10,503 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 8,006 |
| West Midlands | 7,111 |
| East of England | 6,050 |
| South West | 5,785 |
| East Midlands | 4,159 |
| Wales | 2,496 |
| North East | 2,108 |
| Northern Ireland | 1,378 |
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated the petition in Westminster Hall on 13 May 2024. Read the debate in Hansard. House of Commons Library debate pack.
Source and receipt
- https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/648577.jsonUK Parliament Petitions API · read 2026-10-15 · SHA-256
04e1e47682c5b056… - The petition on petition.parliament.uk
The petition's words are its creator's and the response is the Government's; this site quotes both and gives no view on either. Signature counts can still change while a petition is open. To report an error, send a correction request.