Labour Leader Urges Government to Address Court Ruling on Palestinian Family’s Right to Reside in Britain
Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has pledged to close a legal loophole that allowed a Palestinian family from Gaza to be granted the right to live in the UK. This comes after the family successfully applied for entry under the Ukraine Family Scheme, which was originally intended to assist Ukrainian refugees. Starmer expressed disagreement with the court’s decision, acknowledging the controversy around the issue.
The debate became heated during Prime Minister’s Questions, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch insisting that the court’s ruling was wrong and should not stand. Starmer, however, clarified that the decision was made under the previous government, not by ministers, and stressed the need for swift action to prevent similar situations from arising in the future.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also weighed in, confirming that the Home Secretary had already initiated steps to address the legal loophole. He also criticised the Conservative party’s past handling of immigration policies, pointing to the influx of nearly a million people during the previous government and their failure to address illegal immigration.
The case in question concerns a Palestinian family of six who were displaced when their home in Gaza was destroyed by an airstrike during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The family applied to join the father’s brother, a British citizen, in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme. However, their request was initially rejected in May last year on the grounds that the criteria of the scheme were not met.
Following a legal battle, an immigration tribunal judge ruled in September to allow the family’s appeal. The judge found that the Home Office had failed to strike a fair balance between the family’s rights and public interest, citing the exceptionally dangerous situation in Gaza, particularly for young children. The ruling argued that it would be in the children’s best interests to be granted refuge in the UK for their safety.
Despite the court’s decision, the Home Office has opposed any further claims from Gaza, emphasising that there is no resettlement route available for Palestinians from the region. Minister Alex Norris reaffirmed this stance, stating that the government would continue to oppose similar cases in the future.
In a related development, upper tribunal judges have granted permission for the family to appeal further based on their right to family life, as outlined in Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The ongoing legal proceedings highlight the complex issue of asylum seekers from Gaza and the broader implications for UK immigration law.
