Published : 25-12-2025
Syria | Action Group
A number of Palestinian refugees who fled to Syria after the 1967 war have revealed ongoing legal difficulties related to their civil status, as well as restrictions on their rights to freedom of movement and education. These challenges, they say, stem from complex and unexpected administrative procedures.
According to multiple testimonies, Palestinians from Gaza residing in Syria—particularly those holding only passports issued by the Palestinian Authority—face significant legal obstacles when applying for naturalization or regularization. This is despite previous directives from the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees that allowed specific categories to apply for Syrian Palestinian citizenship.
One refugee from the 1967 cohort explained that his mother is Syrian and that he submitted a formal naturalization application before the introduction of any new procedures. Although he received approval from the Minister of the Interior more than seven months ago, his application remains stalled without any official explanation for the delay.
Another refugee said he contacted the Palestinian embassy to inquire about the fate of his Palestinian Authority passport should he complete the naturalization process. However, he was informed that the embassy could not intervene and that the matter required official correspondence from the agency that had previously invited Palestinian refugees to register.
Several testimonies indicated that some applicants were surprised to learn that surrendering their Palestinian Authority passport was a prerequisite for obtaining a clearance certificate from official bodies. Refugees described this requirement as an outdated procedure dating back to the previous regime, noting that they had not been informed of it in advance.
These challenges are further compounded for families whose children are studying outside Syria. One witness pointed out that surrendering the passport could prevent his children from entering Jordan and continuing their university studies, despite having received official approvals to regularize their status.
Refugees also highlighted the distinct nature of their legal status compared to other Palestinian refugees in Syria. They explained that they are registered with UNRWA and hold a white registration card, unlike the blue card issued to Palestinians in Syria. As a result, they are required to renew their registration status every three months, after annual residency permits were discontinued.
Several refugees stressed that this situation has directly affected their right to education, with universities refusing to enroll them due to the absence of stable residency documents, despite their fulfillment of academic requirements.
Palestinians from 1967 in Syria are calling for an official clarification of the current procedures and assurances that their acquired rights—particularly freedom of movement and access to education—will not be violated. They emphasized that their suffering is “longstanding and ongoing,” with no tangible improvement in their legal status to date.
Syria | Action Group
A number of Palestinian refugees who fled to Syria after the 1967 war have revealed ongoing legal difficulties related to their civil status, as well as restrictions on their rights to freedom of movement and education. These challenges, they say, stem from complex and unexpected administrative procedures.
According to multiple testimonies, Palestinians from Gaza residing in Syria—particularly those holding only passports issued by the Palestinian Authority—face significant legal obstacles when applying for naturalization or regularization. This is despite previous directives from the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees that allowed specific categories to apply for Syrian Palestinian citizenship.
One refugee from the 1967 cohort explained that his mother is Syrian and that he submitted a formal naturalization application before the introduction of any new procedures. Although he received approval from the Minister of the Interior more than seven months ago, his application remains stalled without any official explanation for the delay.
Another refugee said he contacted the Palestinian embassy to inquire about the fate of his Palestinian Authority passport should he complete the naturalization process. However, he was informed that the embassy could not intervene and that the matter required official correspondence from the agency that had previously invited Palestinian refugees to register.
Several testimonies indicated that some applicants were surprised to learn that surrendering their Palestinian Authority passport was a prerequisite for obtaining a clearance certificate from official bodies. Refugees described this requirement as an outdated procedure dating back to the previous regime, noting that they had not been informed of it in advance.
These challenges are further compounded for families whose children are studying outside Syria. One witness pointed out that surrendering the passport could prevent his children from entering Jordan and continuing their university studies, despite having received official approvals to regularize their status.
Refugees also highlighted the distinct nature of their legal status compared to other Palestinian refugees in Syria. They explained that they are registered with UNRWA and hold a white registration card, unlike the blue card issued to Palestinians in Syria. As a result, they are required to renew their registration status every three months, after annual residency permits were discontinued.
Several refugees stressed that this situation has directly affected their right to education, with universities refusing to enroll them due to the absence of stable residency documents, despite their fulfillment of academic requirements.
Palestinians from 1967 in Syria are calling for an official clarification of the current procedures and assurances that their acquired rights—particularly freedom of movement and access to education—will not be violated. They emphasized that their suffering is “longstanding and ongoing,” with no tangible improvement in their legal status to date.
