Gaza boys evacuated to Britain for NHS treatment say Starmer has ‘broken promises’ | World News

Two boys from Gaza who received medical treatment in the UK have said the prime minister has “broken a promise” to reunite them with their families and bring over hundreds of injured children.

The government originally aimed to evacuate as many as 300 children for NHS care, but so far only about 50 have been treated – and none have arrived this year.

Mahmoud, 12, and Obaida, 15, told Sky News’ Barbara Serra they received a really warm welcome” when they arrived in autumn.

But they’ve struggled without their parents, and Mahmoud said when they met Sir Keir Starmer in December, he “made us promises of reuniting the family”.

“When we informed our family back home in Gaza that we’d met the prime minister, they couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“They were very happy and looking forward to us being reunited. They thought that that promise would be kept.”

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Mahmoud found out during the Israel-Gaza war he had an undiagnosed chronic condition.

He told Sky News he “was crying the whole time” during his operation to remove a kidney in the UK.

“I knew that if my mother and my siblings were next to me, the operation would have been a lot easier to go through. But I couldn’t stop myself from crying,” he said.

Obaida uses a wheelchair and needs more operations after his tent was hit by an Israeli bomb. He told Sky News: “I really need my dad to be there, supporting, standing next to me.”

Both boys hope more children will be able to come to the UK soon after seeing young people with “horrific” injuries in Gaza.

“It’s not fair that there are children there who require treatment, who deserve to have a future, who have instead been left behind to suffer,” said Obaida.

“I want to say that the children of Gaza are just as valuable as children elsewhere,” he added.

“The difference is in Gaza, a child could be playing, and in one moment his limbs are gone and his life is turned upside down.”

Gaza’s medical system has been devastated by Israeli strikes, but a private initiative called Project Pure Hope has managed to bring some children to the UK for treatment.

However, the government’s plan has missed its ambition of helping hundreds of children, and on Tuesday the boys travelled to parliament as part of a group asking MPs to do more.

A Foreign Office spokesperson told Sky News it is still very difficult to get people in need of treatment out of Gaza.

“The situation in Gaza is appalling, and options for leaving are extremely limited,” they said.

“This is why we continue to call for Israel to ensure that those who need medical treatment can leave Gaza and get the health care they need following the ceasefire.

“Now is the time to scale up aid and ensure much-needed medicines and medical supplies are getting into Gaza. This includes ensuring that the Rafah crossing is able to operate at maximum capacity.”