The UK government has come under fire for refusing to admit a four-year-old boy from Gaza, Ahmed, who lost both his legs and most of his family in an Israeli airstrike, for medical treatment.

Ahmed has since been evacuated to Italy, where he is receiving prosthetics and physiotherapy, sparking debate over the UK's lack of action to support injured Palestinian children.

Countries like Italy and Norway have initiated medical evacuation programs for children affected by the ongoing war on Gaza.

In contrast, the UK has yet to implement a similar initiative, prompting a coalition of British politicians to demand immediate action.

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Gaza evacuations

In a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Stella Creasy, Apsana Begum, and others highlighted the dire conditions in Gaza's health sector, where critical shortages of supplies, staff, and infrastructure have left many children without essential care.

The letter draws comparisons to the UK's rapid evacuation of injured Ukrainian children during the war with Russia, questioning the absence of a similar response for Gaza.

"Take the story of 4-year-old Ahmed, who lost his family and both his legs to an Israeli air strike in Gaza," the letter reads. "He was refused entry to the UK and has now been evacuated to Italy where he is being treated and is receiving life-changing prosthetics and physiotherapy. The UK has the expertise and the resources to help children like Ahmed, all we need is the political will."

Bombarded twice in Gaza, 4-year-old Ahmed lost his parents in the first then his legs in the second attack - Reuters.

The boy keeps asking for his parents, and he wants to get up and walk, but his parents are dead and his legs have been amputated. pic.twitter.com/fup32aySbH

— Edward Hulme 💙🇵🇸 (@hulme_edward) November 16, 2023

The letter calls for a short-term medical evacuation program for Gaza's injured children to be coordinated with the Palestinian Authority, NGOs, and Israeli authorities.

It also stresses the readiness of UK medics to provide specialist care, noting, "The injuries suffered by children in Gaza are extreme and require specialist care. Medics in this country are keen to offer their life-saving expertise."

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Humanitarian obligations

Ahmed's case has drawn widespread condemnation, with critics arguing that the UK's decision undermines its commitment to international law and humanitarian principles.

The letter comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) raises concerns over the slow pace of medical evacuations from Gaza.

According to WHO representative Rik Peeperkorn, out of 12,000 Palestinian patients awaiting urgent transfer, only 78 have been evacuated recently. Among them are 2,500 children, with some tragically losing their lives due to prolonged delays.

Human rights advocates are calling on the UK to demonstrate solidarity with Gaza's most vulnerable. "The UK must step up and demonstrate our commitment to international law," the letter concludes, urging a meeting with the prime minister to address the escalating crisis.

The UK refused entry for medical treatment to Ahmed - a 4 year old from Gaza who lost both his legs and most of his family in an Israeli air strike.

He’s now receiving vital treatment in Italy; why won’t the UK offer the same?

Over 50 MPs have written to the Prime Minister 👇 pic.twitter.com/vC9jC41o5K

— Kim Johnson (@KimJohnsonMP) December 17, 2024