UK: Dozens of MPs urge Shabana Mahmood not to block evacuation from Gaza

Over 85 British MPs have penned a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, expressing alarm over reports that the government is obstructing the evacuation of numerous women and children from Gaza. Labour MP Kim Johnson initiated the appeal, which was co-signed by MPs from various political parties. The suspension of refugee family reunion applications in September has left families in Gaza unable to join relatives in Britain, as their applications were rejected due to new, stricter rules that have yet to be announced.

Johnson emphasized that family reunification should not be treated as a political tool, stressing that it serves as a lifeline for families enduring the horrors of Gaza, offering them a chance for safety and reunion. The MPs' letter emphasizes that bureaucracy should not hinder humanity, particularly in cases where individuals have a legal right to reunite.

The letter further highlights the Home Office's failure to provide onward travel assurance for Palestinians applying for evacuation, treating them more harshly than refugees from other countries. The letter also calls for the reinstatement of the family reunification process and collaboration with the Foreign Office to ensure that Palestinians from Gaza are evacuated in line with the treatment of refugees from other nations.