Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to support Palestinian refugees seeking to enter the UK as a result of recent violence in Gaza.

We remain deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and are closely monitoring the situation. We are working closely with UN agencies and others to respond to ongoing needs in Gaza, including supporting up to 1 million Gazans by addressing critical water and sanitation needs through UNICEF. The UK is also a long-term supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which provides basic services to 1.3 million people in Gaza, including basic health care.

There are safe and legal routes for people to come to the UK should they wish to join family members here, work or study. They would need to meet the requirements of the relevant Immigration Rule under which they were applying to qualify for a visa. Details about the criteria and how to apply are available on the GOV.UK website at: http://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa.

However, there are no specific provisions in the Immigration Rules for people to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum. Those who need international protection should claim in the first safe country they reach or register with mandated UN agencies – that is the fastest route to safety.