UK Judge Allows Gaza Family Entry Through Ukraine Resettlement Scheme

A legal ruling granting a Palestinian family entry to the UK under human rights law has prompted government plans to address perceived immigration loopholes.

A Palestinian family of six, displaced by conflict in Gaza, was granted entry to the UK after applying under the Ukraine Family Scheme despite not qualifying for it.
The family’s appeal was upheld by a judge citing their Article 8 right to family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The Home Office had initially rejected the application, arguing it did not meet the Ukraine scheme's criteria and raising concerns about setting a precedent for similar cases.
Judge Hugo Norton-Taylor ruled that the absence of a specific resettlement scheme for Palestinians should not disadvantage applicants seeking humanitarian relief.
Both the UK government and opposition leaders have criticized the decision, with commitments to review immigration laws and close the legal loophole identified in this case.