Palestinians in Syria are divided into three categories:

The first arrived in 1948, the second settled after the 1967 war, and the third in 1970, following the clashes between Palestinian factions and the Jordanian army.

The number of Palestinian refugees in Syria before 2011 was estimated at 600,000, many of whom live in 14 camps spread across most of the country's governorates, most notably Yarmouk Camp, known as the "capital of the Palestinian diaspora." While there is no official estimate of the number of Palestinian refugees who left Syria after the war, human rights sources estimate the figure at around 200,000.

Palestinians in Syria enjoy a special legal status that exempts them from foreigners' laws and grants them civil rights equal to those of Syrians, unparalleled in the Palestinian diaspora. These rights include the right to education, free healthcare, and employment, with the exception of political rights.

At a time when the region is witnessing sensitive political transformations and complex regional circumstances, Syrian Palestinians are raising numerous questions about their future and the possibility of naturalization. They are deeply concerned after Syria joined the ranks of countries seeking to normalize relations with "Israel".

Continued restrictions on Palestinian factions in Syria

For decades, Syria has been a safe haven for Palestinian Resistance factions, providing them with all forms of support and training. However, following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad's regime in December of last year and the assumption of power by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the transitional government cracked down on these factions. It arrested the Secretary-General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command, Dr. Talal Naji, and then released him and forced him to leave the country and later closed all of the Front's offices.

The properties and bank accounts of many factions and their leaders were also seized. Meanwhile, Hamas was not allowed to resume its activities and representation in Damascus, despite its rupture with the former regime over its support for the armed opposition.

On the other hand, the offices of several Palestinian media outlets were closed, most notably Radio Al-Quds, which broadcast from Damascus. All political activities by Palestinian factions and forces were prohibited, although their humanitarian work was allowed to continue through certain charitable organizations.

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From 'Palestinian refugee' to 'resident foreigner'

At the beginning of September, the Syrian Ministry of Justice issued Decision No. 1590 regarding admission to the Higher Institute of the Judiciary. The Decision stipulates that applicants must have “held Syrian citizenship for at least five years,” omitting the phrase “and those considered equivalent to them” (referring to Palestinian Syrians), which had been included in previous competitions.

Palestinian graduate students were also required to pay fees allocated to non-Syrian students. This was preceded by the use of the term "resident foreigner" on Syrian civil status documents (birth and death certificates, etc.), instead of the term "Palestinian refugee". Some changes were also noted in newly issued documents, such as the removal of the asylum date from the records, in addition to placing the symbol "0" in front of the registration number instead of the family card number in Palestine, as was the case previously.

Although the Syrian Ministry of Interior attributed these changes to a technical glitch, if they continue to be implemented, they will lead to very significant transformations, as explained to Al Mayadeen English by lawyer Jamil Suleiman:

“Palestinian refugees in Syria have enjoyed a special legal status for decades, distinguishing them from foreigners. They are registered with the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees, a government agency affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. Revoking the refugee status of a Palestinian in Syria could be a prelude to resettlement or displacement, as in this case, they would lose the protection granted by refugees under international law. Therefore, Palestinian Syrians would need an entry visa, their residency would be limited to a renewable period, and they would be denied the right to work in public jobs. This would also affect their ability to own property and marry."

There are many serious questions and concerns being raised by Syrian Palestinians these days, as Suleiman mentioned,

“Some have proposed the idea of ​​naturalizing Palestinian refugees, which many consider a humanitarian solution, but the majority see it as a threat to national identity and the right to return. Also, today, in light of the talk about Syria's imminent signing of an agreement with Israel, we must ask whether our rights will have negative repercussions in one way or another, in addition to the expected repercussions of proposals to deport Palestinians from Gaza to Syria as part of potential international arrangements, at a time when Palestinian refugees in Syria do not have a unified authority to speak on their behalf or defend them."

UNRWA reduces funding to only 16.72% of what is required

UNRWA has reduced funding for programmes in Syria to only 16.72% of what is required.

Most Syrian charities were previously affiliated with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, preventing Palestinian refugees from registering with them, as they only provide support to Syrians.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Syria (UNRWA) has acknowledged that 90% of Palestinian refugees in Syria live below the poverty line.

The coming days are expected to be more difficult for them, given the massive reduction in aid allocated to them by UNRWA, which is facing financial challenges and increasing political pressure after the Israeli government passed new legislation aimed at ending the agency's operations in the occupied Palestinian territories as of January 2025, further increasing the financial pressure on the agency.

UNRWA Director of Media and Communications, Juliette Touma, said, "The end of 2024 brought a significant financial deficit, reducing funding allocated to programs in Syria to only 16.72% of the required amount. This has forced those targeted to cope with inflation and rising prices of basic commodities. This is worrying because it will lead to negative strategies, such as underage marriage and child labor in camps."

Touma pointed out that "the tragedy of the camps in Syria is worsening, with the return of more Palestinian refugees from Idlib, neighboring countries such as Lebanon and Jordan, and a number of countries around the world. These refugees need urgent cash and food assistance, but improving their conditions depends largely on continued support from the international community."