THE Scottish government has called for a visa scheme for Gazan families to match the support given to Ukrainians fleeing war.

Backer of the Gaza Families Reunited campaign and SNP Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart has called on the Westminster government to deliver safe routes for Palestinian families seeking to reunite with their loved ones already in Britain and escape the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.

Raising her concerns about the ongoing “horrific” Israeli offensive and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, a plight few have been able to escape since the closing of the Rafah crossing with Egypt in May, Ms Stewart has written to Asylum Minister Angela Eagle to demand action.

She wrote: “The First Minister and I have recently met with representatives of the Gaza Families Reunited campaign.

“We support their calls for a Gaza family visa scheme, modelled on the Ukraine family visa scheme, to be established and ask you to consider establishing a bespoke scheme to meet this urgent need.

“This would enable Palestinians in Gaza to reunite with their immediate and extended family members in the UK.

“Far from offering a permanent route to resettlement, this would provide temporary sanctuary until it is safe for people to return.

“Existing routes for Palestinians in Gaza to join their loved ones in the UK are insufficient and failing.

“This has left Palestinians in the UK with no choice other than to pay or crowdfund for the high ‘co-ordination fees’ being charged by an Egyptian travel company to facilitate their loved ones’ exit from Gaza, so that they could enrol biometrics at a visa application centre in Egypt.”

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.