A group of Palestinian children have been evacuated from Gaza and flown to Britain for NHS treatment.

Much of the healthcare infrastructure in the heavily bombarded enclave has been decimated by Israel's military operation, with the majority of hospitals destroyed.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said today's announcement marked "the start of their journey towards recovery."

A United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza. Israel called the assessment "scandalous" and "fake".

Displaced Palestinians were forced to flee northern Gaza due to an Israeli military operation

Health Secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the move

The children have arrived in the UK along with their immediate families, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that it had supported the medical evacuations of 10 "critical" children from Gaza to the UK. These children were evacuated with 50 companions, the WHO said.

Mr Streeting said: "No one can fail to be distressed by the devastating impact the war has had on the children of Gaza, and I cannot imagine the fear and anguish their families have endured. It is a soul-destroying situation that compels us to act.

"Every child deserves the chance to heal, to play, to simply be able to dream again. These young patients have witnessed horrors no child should ever see, but this marks the start of their journey towards recovery."

Smoke rises from Gaza after an explosion, as seen from Israel

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Children are too often the innocent victims of war.

"In Gaza, where the healthcare system has been decimated and hospitals are no longer functioning, there are severely ill children unable to get the medical care they need to survive.

"As we welcome the first group of children to the UK for urgent treatment, their arrival reflects our determined commitment to humanitarian action and the power of international co-operation.

"We continue to call for the protection of medical infrastructure and health workers in Gaza, and for a huge increase in medicines and supplies to be allowed in."

Palestinians, displaced by the Israeli military offensive, take shelter in a tent camp