Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli artillery shelling targets the outskirts of the town of Shebaa
Al-Qassam Brigades: The targeting took place at the intersection of 'Street 5' with the western line north of Khan Younis
Al-Qassam Brigades: A NIMR armored personnel carrier carrying an Israeli soldier was targeted with an Al-Yassin missile north of Khan Younis
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police

Large influx of Israelis after refugee status in Portugal, fleeing war

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Israeli media
  • 21 Aug 2024 16:18
  • 1 Shares
5 Min Read

Amid the war on Gaza and a looming retaliation for "Israel's" assassinations in Lebanon and Iran, Israeli settlers' ordeals continue to mount.

Listen
  • x
  • Passengers wait at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on October 7, 2023 (AFP)
    Passengers wait at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv on October 7, 2023 (AFP)

Israeli immigration lawyer Nufar Bar, who practices in Porto, has received an unceasing stream of inquiries from Israelis seeking refugee status since October 7.

“We get them almost every day,” stated Bar, who assists Israelis in relocating overseas through the Portuguese legal firm Cotarelli e Rodrigues.

Lawyer Bar explained how straightforward the system is; “When you arrive in Portugal, you can declare that you want to apply for refugee status at the airport or later at an AIMA [Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum] office. You say you’re from Israel and want to apply for asylum. They give you a form to fill out and collect your biometric data.”

Commenting on the situation, a 27-year-old Israeli sees the process as a chance to start a new life.

“I had the impression that with the war, my future was compromised in Israel,” said the refugee seeker, who like the others interviewed for this story wished to remain anonymous.

“I lost my job and I didn’t know what to do,” she said. “So when I saw this possibility, I took the opportunity and saw it as the start of a new life, as I had nothing to lose.”

Although there are other immigration possibilities available in Portugal, Bar has discovered that a large number of Israelis choose to apply as refugees via the UNHCR's thorough procedure.

Within six to nine months of their application, candidates are contacted for an interview; following the interview, their status is determined. They receive assistance from the Portuguese government in the meantime.

Read next: Turkish airport staff refuses to refuel Israeli plane after landing

“So basically they get immediate rights. Some of them can work immediately, bring their kids to school, have access to healthcare and if they need they can have food and accommodation from the government,” said Alex Bayer, another immigration lawyer at Cotarelli e Rodrigues.

Related News

Cybersecurity issues cause worldwide system outages, airlines grounded

Easyjet cancels thousands of flights from 'Israel'

There is no official data available online regarding the number of Israelis seeking asylum in Portugal, and numerous attempts to reach out to the Portuguese authorities for clarification were met with silence. Still, there is a lot of discussion about it on Israeli Facebook groups and blogs.

“If you do not have any other options like EU or Portuguese citizenship and your income in Israel has stopped and you were evacuated from your home and you need a solution, this is an option,” Bar said, adding, “I’ve also seen young people who see it as an opportunity to try living in Europe.”

Meanwhile, the European Commission’s Department for Migration and Home Affairs only released an email saying that “the EU remains a safe haven for many of those forced to leave their homes due to persecution, wars, conflicts or natural disasters,” adding that “member states… decide on asylum applications on the basis of an individual assessment.”

For the past few months, in light of increasing regional tensions, multiple international airlines, such as Lufthansa, United, American Airlines, and Ryanair have been suspending or canceling flights from and to Tel Aviv. 

Israeli settlers leaving sees 150% increase since October 7 amid fears

On July 11, Israeli media reported on a large number of Israeli settlers leaving occupied Palestine with no intention of returning, revealing a significant increase in Israeli "reverse migration".

Israeli Channel 13, citing new data, described the situation as "very harsh", noting that there has indeed been a large increase in the number of Israeli settlers who have left occupied Palestine.

Lee Yaron, a writer for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and author of the book "October Seventh", said the data show that 5,000 Israeli settlers cut their stay in "Israel" since October, which comprises a 150% increase compared to the previous year between October and July.

Yaron pointed out that those who cut their stay are young with children, and they confirmed that "they prefer to start their lives in another place," noting that "those who cut their residencies talk about not feeling safe because of the war."

Thousands of Israelis are seeking immigration

In this context, Israeli Channel 12 reported that "the discussion about migration among Israelis on social networks has recently increased by more than 100%."

The channel highlighted an analysis by Scooper, a company specializing in comprehensive social listening and analytics, which revealed a two-and-a-half-fold increase in discussions about leaving the entity in recent weeks. The company clarified that these discussions were fueled by individuals talking about colleagues who had left, personal stories of relocating, and strong criticism of immigrants.

The channel also reported that since the start of the war, there have been over 100,000 instances of the term "relocating" being used to discuss migration from "Israel" across various platforms. It noted three peak periods in migration discussions during the war: the first shortly after October 7, with a 70% increase in usage, a second peak in March 2024, and a current third peak underway.

  • airlines
  • Gaza Strip
  • war on Gaza
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Gaza genocide
  • Gaza
  • Portugal
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS