Netherlands Suspends Asylum Decisions for Palestinians for Next 6 Months

Netherlands Suspends Asylum Decisions for Palestinians for Next 6 Months

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Authorities of the Netherlands have decided to suspend asylum applications submitted by Gaza and the West Bank Palestinians for the next six months.
  • According to the Secretary of State Van der Burg, such a measure was taken due to the uncertainty in the Palestinian territories.
  • This moratorium may be reassessed for an early removal if it seems necessary.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND) has announced that they will not make decisions on asylum applications submitted by Gaza and the West Bank Palestinians for the upcoming six months.

The measure, which resulted in the temporary suspension of asylum decisions, became effective as of December 19.

State Secretary Van der Burg explained in a letter to the House of Representatives that he made this decision in response to the uncertain situation in Palestine.

He further stated that the departure moratorium typically relates to asylum seekers required to return to the Palestinian Territories.

The security situation in Gaza is currently reported as highly challenging, with the West Bank experiencing a lesser degree of concern, albeit with a deterioration noted since October 7. The trajectory of the security situation in both areas remains uncertain for the upcoming period.

Van der Burg, State Secretary of the Netherlands

He also noted that the monitoring of the situation in the Palestinian Territories will continue, and if deemed necessary, the moratorium can be reevaluated for an early withdrawal.

Applications submitted over 21 months ago and those with favorable decisions based on individual circumstances, irrespective of the current conflict, for residence in the Netherlands, will still be evaluated by the IND, as this authority noted.

Additionally, IND will also handle cases of Palestinians under UNRWA protection who departed from the Palestinian Territories before the war.

However, they must have already had a second interview with the IND and be able to receive a positive decision to stay in the Netherlands. If asylum seekers have previously been registered in another European country, a possible Dublin claim can be continued.

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)

However, denied asylum seekers can reapply if they perceive a persistent well-founded fear of persecution or serious harm due to changes in the Palestinian Territories.

Certain travel applications linked to Palestinian status holders may receive priority processing upon individual assessment by the IND, without changing substantive treatment of the application. IND also added that the moratorium does not apply to family reunification travel requests.

Apart from this, IND noted that asylum seekers of Palestinian origin are often initially registered as ‘unknown nationality,’ and there are no reliable figures on the number of applications or Palestinians in the asylum process.

IND explained that this occurs due to the non-recognition of Palestinian nationality, preventing foreigners from being registered as such. As a result, Palestinians may have other countries as their usual place of residence.

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