UK’s Biometric Blockade on Palestinians Is Costing Lives
23 August 2025
Positive Action in Housing, the refugee charity that founded the Room for Refugees programme — the UK’s longest-running hosting scheme, has warned that the UK Government is using visa biometrics as a bureaucratic weapon against Palestinians trapped in Gaza.
The charity is currently supporting 75 Palestinians seeking family reunion or student visas. In addition to the lack of a dedicated visa route, applicants face repeated barriers when requesting biometric waivers or deferrals. Families are being told to withdraw applications because biometrics cannot be provided — an impossible condition in Gaza, where there is no visa centre and the borders are sealed.
“Britain is operating a biometric blockade against Palestinians. Families are being forced to withdraw visa applications, not because they don’t qualify, but because the government insists on an impossible condition. This is not bureaucracy — it is cruelty by design,” said Robina Qureshi, CEO of Positive Action in Housing.
Meanwhile, Palestinian students with offers at UK universities remain stranded in a warzone, while France, Belgium, Italy and Germany have evacuated theirs. The UK restricts entry only to Chevening scholars — an arbitrary and heartless line.
Qureshi added:
“For Ukrainians, every barrier was lifted: biometrics were waived, new routes were opened, families were reunited at speed. For Palestinians, every door is closed. Time is not neutral. Every hour of delay is another hour in which people are being starved, bombed and killed while Britain looks away.”
Positive Action in Housing is calling on the Home Secretary to grant immediate biometric waivers or deferrals for Palestinians in Gaza, and to establish a clear evacuation and visa programme for students.
Time is measured in lives. Every week of delay is another week in which Britain knowingly abandons Palestinians under genocide. The biometric blockade must be lifted now.