Syria Quietly Strips “Syrian Palestinian” Identity from Refugee Documents

Watan-In a surprising and unannounced move, Syrian authorities have begun implementing major changes to the civil documents of Palestinians residing in the country. These changes include altering their legal classification from “Syrian Palestinian” to “Resident Palestinian,” and replacing the governorate field with the term “foreigner”—even for those born in Syria.

According to a special report by the Syrian news outlet Zaman al-Wasl, civil registry offices have recently started to enforce these changes, prompting widespread questions and concerns among human rights advocates and Palestinian refugees alike. Notably, this shift has occurred without any official statement or clarification from the relevant government bodies.

The newspaper, which reviewed a recent “family registration document,” revealed that the new designation applies to individuals aged between 30 and 50. In these documents, the nationality is clearly listed as “Resident Palestinian,” while the governorate information has been removed in favor of a general “foreigner” label.

Administrative Update or Policy Shift?

These new changes represent a significant departure from Syria’s historical approach to Palestinian refugees, who have held a special legal status since the 1948 Nakba. While Palestinians in Syria were never granted full Syrian citizenship, they have enjoyed near-equal rights in areas like education, employment, residency, and property ownership under specific conditions. Their civil documents were issued under the authority of the General Authority for Palestinian Arab Refugees.

However, under the new classification, removing the label “Syrian Palestinian” and replacing it with “foreign resident” threatens to dismantle decades of acquired legal and social recognition. This shift may result in Palestinians being placed under a new legal category that could strip them of many previously granted rights.

Official Silence and Human Rights Concerns

As of the time this report was prepared, no official response or explanation has been issued by Syrian authorities. This silence leaves room for multiple interpretations: is Syria redefining eligibility for legal residence, revising its refugee settlement policies, or attempting to restrict Palestinian refugees’ mobility, employment, or access to documentation?

There are growing concerns that these measures might be applied retroactively, affecting generations of Palestinians who were born and raised in Syria—estimated to number in the hundreds of thousands.

Potential Impact on Civil Rights

Many fear that these legal adjustments will severely impact Palestinians’ access to essential services in Syria, including education, healthcare, marriage and birth registration, and travel document renewals. It may also complicate their legal status if they attempt to travel abroad, return to Syria, or apply for permanent residency in other countries.

A Threatened Identity in the Absence of Answers

In the absence of official transparency, the future of the “Syrian Palestinian” designation remains unknown. Concerns are mounting that this could mark the beginning of a more complex and restrictive phase in Syria’s approach to the Palestinian refugee issue. These developments come amid a shifting political landscape in the region and raise urgent questions about the future of refugee identity, belonging, and legal rights.