Join our campaign: Palestinian resettlement and family reunion scheme
Positive Action in Housing's Chair, Dr Rachel Smith , our CEO, Robina Qureshi, human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, film maker Peter Mullan, lawyer George Rosenberg, and Emiratis Professor Phil Taylor are amongst those who have signed an open letter calling for the urgent establishment of a Palestinian resettlement and family reunion scheme.
Hashem is from Gaza and works as a doctor at an NHS hospital
The UK has rightly welcomed nearly a quarter of a million Ukrainian refugees with broad political and public support. Yet when it comes to Palestinians seeking refuge, the response has been markedly different.
While some Ukrainians can return home to visit family, Palestinians have no home to return to. Gaza lies in ruins, and escalating violence across the West Bank is forcing even more people from their land.
We recognise that all refugee programmes require careful planning, but fairness and consistency should be at the heart of the UK’s approach. It has been deeply concerning to see recent political debate focus on restricting rather than facilitating sanctuary for Palestinians in desperate need—an approach that runs counter to the Geneva Refugee Convention and the principles of fairness and humanity that Britain claims to uphold.
The vast majority of Palestinians do not want to leave their homeland—they want to live and thrive in Palestine. However, generations of displacement and conflict, and particularly the past 16 months of bombardment, made worse by Britain’s historical role and its ongoing diplomatic and military support for Israeli policies, have left many with no choice. Given Britain’s historical involvement in the region and its continued influence, the UK has a unique responsibility to provide safe routes for those facing persecution.
The UK has a proud history of offering sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution, as seen in the success of Homes for Ukraine. It is time to apply the same principles to Palestinians. We therefore call on the government to establish a Palestinian resettlement and family reunion programme—ensuring that those fleeing genocide and ethnic cleansing have a safe route to sanctuary. This is not about politics; it is about humanity. The UK has both a moral and legal responsibility to act. We urge you to meet with representatives from human rights organisations and refugee charities to discuss the urgent need for this scheme.
We therefore urge the UK Government to take immediate steps to establish such a programme and to ensure that Britain upholds its humanitarian obligations.
Signatories:
Dr Robina Qureshi, CEO, Positive Action in Housing
Dr Rachel Smith, Chair, Positive Action in Housing
Aamer Anwar, Human Rights Lawyer
Ben Goldberg, Turpin Miller
George Rosenberg, Immigration Lawyer, George Rosenberg Law Ltd.
Peter Mullan, Filmmaker
Emeritus Professor Philip Taylor
Paul Laverty, Writer
Mohammad Asif Afghan Human Rights foundation
Ross Gibson, Strathclyde UCU
Keir McKechnie, Chair, Stop the War Scotland,
Professor David Miller
Maddie Harris, Humans for Rights Network
Ros Gowers Evesham Vale Welcomes Refugees
Maria Wilby Refugee, asylum seeker and migrant action RAMA
Frances Pilling Glass Door Homeless Charity, Migrant Project
Angela McCormick, NCL EIS FELA
Gee Manoharan, Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees(AVID)
Maureen Anderson
Brian Cross, Shared Goods Charity
Ahmad Ahmad, ENTRAIDE (MATUAL AID) Charity - Solihull
Emily Phillips, GARAS
Linda Satchell, GARAS
Jennie Watts, GARAS
Debbie Fawzi, GARAS
Charlotte Khan, Care4Calais
Adele Owen, GARAS
Colette Batten-Turner, Conversation Over Borders
Rachel Frame,
Katalina Balcomb,Bradford Rape Crisis
Eleftheria Ktenas, Refugee Education UK
Hamid khan, Refugee Education UK
Bilal Safi, Refugee Education UK
Ehsan Habibi, Refugee Education UK
Jamie Jenner, Social Worker
Kerry Oldham- GARAS
Ismail Ali - GARAS
Anne Withers, Translator
Carol Hayden, Social research
Jim McGrath, Retired (former University administrator)
Sonia Lloyd , Retired GP
Rev David McLachlan, Church of Scotland Minister
Helen Trainor, Retired
Jane Duckett, Professor
Sue Lowe, Retired teacher
Iain Radcliffe, Individual
Perdita Heller, Foster Carer
Fiona M McOwan, Fife Greens
Colin Birks, retired university lecturer
Mungavin Margaret, Housewife
Chris Hough, Citizen
Robert Rae and Helen Trew (Co-Directors), Art27 Scotland
Derry Bryant, English teacher
Rani Dhanda , Inclusion Junction
FARIDA STANIKZAI, New Citizen's Gateway
Sally Capes, Charity Volunteer
Meg Speirs, (Retired) M/UP HOD in film and television
Iqbal Mohamed MP, Member of Parliament for Dewsbury and Batley
Dr Margaret A Mackay, University of Edinburgh, Scotland (retired staff member)
Aida Arouri, University of Essex, Research Assistant
Abdel Salhi, University of Essex
Bee, Homelessness Charity Worker
Anne Adams, Retired Health Records Manager
Володимир, Шахтах, будівельник багатоповерхівок
Sarah karim, Student
Malek Khleif Alkhalaf, Refugee
How can you help?
Donate to our Refugee Appeal
Our Refugee Appeal is raising funds to provide vital humanitarian aid to refugee families, children, babies, lone women and men — including torture survivors and those fleeing war and persecution — who are being left effectively destitute across the UK. Give a one-off or regular donation via the Charities Aid Foundation.