Pressure mounts on UK to approve evacuation and treatment of two critically ill children in Gaza

ITV News

3 days ago

International pressure is mounting on the UK government to assist with the evacuation of two critically ill children trapped in Gaza.
Project Pure Hope, a charity comprised of medical professionals and humanitarians, has called on the prime minister and foreign secretary to intervene and approve the children's evacuation.
Three-year-old Hatem was severely injured in a bomb blast that killed both his parents in Gaza. He is suffering from 30% burns and requires specialist treatment.
Karam, who is one year old, suffers from a complex bowel condition and requires immediate surgical intervention. His condition has deteriorated significantly, and he is experiencing severe malnutrition.
British plastic surgeon Victoria Rose, who is currently in Gaza, said: "We are losing children left, right, and centre from avoidable deaths. The situation is beyond critical. These children need immediate evacuation to survive."
Hatem and Karam's evacuation has already been organised by Project Pure Hope, who say they will fully fund the medevac flights and ongoing medical treatment.
"These children's lives depend on the UK government's help. We have already shown what is possible by bringing two other children to safety and initiating their treatment," Rose added.
Speaking about the calls to evacuate these children, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, said: "The scale of the medical catastrophe for children and the population of Gaza is horrendous, and that's why we increased our aid.
"What will end this suffering is a ceasefire but if there is more that we can do to end the suffering, of course, we will seek to do that."
CEO of Project Pure Hope, Dr Farzana Rahman told ITV News she wanted the UK government to, "understand the urgency of these cases," adding the "survival of these children depends on it."
"In terms of caring for injured children from Gaza the UK, compared to its European counterparts, is nowhere close to providing the level of care that the other European countries have."
Dr Rahman said whilst the UK had so far evacuated and treated two children earlier this year, European counterparts had so far collectively helped over 100.
"The public are very supportive, they recognise that children everywhere deserve a life with dignity. They deserve a right to access healthcare."
"50% of Gaza's population are children and I think the devastating toll of both the physical and psychological injuries will manifest for generations to come."
Ghena, five and Rama, 12, were the first children from Gaza to arrive in the UK for medical treatment with Project Pure Hope's help. ITV News Correspondent Rachel Younger and Senior Producer Roohi Hasan covered the story.
The evacuation request comes as Gaza finds itself on the brink of starvation.
More than 9,000 children who have been treated for malnutrition this year, according to the UN children's agency, and food security experts say cases are expected to rise.
For more than two months, Israel has banned all food, medicine and other goods from entering the territory that is home to some two million Palestinians, as it continues to carry out waves of airstrikes and ground operations.
After weeks of insisting Gaza had enough food, Israel relented in the face of international pressure last week and began allowing dozens of humanitarian trucks into the territory last week - including some carrying baby food.
On Thursday, the White House announced Israel had accepted a new US proposal for a temporary ceasefire which would see a pause in fighting and the return of more hostages.
Speaking to reporters White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Israel "backed and supported" the proposal.
Responding to the proposal, top Hamas official Bassem Naim said: 'The Zionist response, in essence, means perpetuating the occupation and continuing the killing and famine."
He went on to claim the proposal "does not respond to any of our people's demands, foremost among which is stopping the war and famine.'
Despite this Hamas have said they will study the proposed ceasefire but have yet to make a statement on whether they plan to accept its terms.
Hamas had previously said it had agreed with Steve Witkoff on a 'general framework' of an agreement that would lead to a lasting ceasefire.
Earlier this year, a ceasefire was implemented which saw the release of some hostages but it is believed Hamas still hold 58.
When Israel broke the ceasefire agreement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said any future negotiations would take place "under fire."
Recently Qatar, which has been assisting ceasefire negotiations, said "fundamental differences" remained between the two sides.
Netanyahu has said Israel will only end the war when all hostages are released, Hamas is destroyed or disarmed and Israel controls Gaza indefinitely facilitating what he refers to as the voluntary emigration of its population.
Whilst the suggestion of displacing Gaza's population has also been suggested by US President Donald Trump most of the international community has rejected it with some legal experts saying it would likely violate international law.
Hamas has said it will only release the remaining hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners' release, a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal.