Around a hundred residents of Gaza, who found themselves in Egypt after the start of the war, have turned to the Spanish embassy in Cairo, seeking relocation to Spain to apply for international protection. Among them are entire families, pregnant women, children with chronic illnesses, and elderly people in need of medical care. All are in an extremely vulnerable position, lacking legal status and access to basic rights.
Life in Egypt: No legal status and no hope of integration
Most Palestinians entered Egypt on regular visas, which cannot be renewed. This makes it impossible for them to obtain residency, which means they cannot work, study, access healthcare, or even open a bank account. Children do not attend school, adults cannot find work, and most have no access to medical care.
The situation is worsened by the fact that Egypt does not recognize the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (ACNUR) regarding Palestinians, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) is not operational in the country. This leaves people without any international support and no way to legalize their stay.
Legal challenges and waiting for solutions
The legal team representing the interests of Palestinians notes that the first applications were submitted several months ago, but the Spanish authorities have yet to respond. According to the law, if an official response is not received within the established timeframe, the applications are considered rejected under the ‘silent denial’ principle. Now, the lawyers are considering legal action to protect their clients’ rights.
At the same time, some applicants have already had interviews at the embassy, and previously, similar requests from other groups were granted, allowing people to travel to Spain to apply for asylum. This gives cause for hope, but most families still live in uncertainty and fear for their future.
Personal stories: caught between war and despair
Among the applicants are young women, children, the elderly, and people with serious illnesses. Many have lost their homes, relatives, and jobs. For the majority, the journey to Egypt was their only chance to survive, but here they found themselves in a legal vacuum. Some families had to pay large sums just to leave Gaza, which has become a heavy financial burden for them.
People speak of constant fear, the impossibility of finding work, and the lack of health insurance or education for their children. They say that even if the fighting in Gaza ends, there is nowhere to return to: the infrastructure has been destroyed, and safety is not guaranteed by either Israel or Hamas.
Humanitarian crisis and hope for change
Palestinians who have found themselves in Egypt face daily hardships: lack of access to medical care, no education for their children, isolation, and the constant fear of deportation. Egyptian authorities have previously deported refugees from other countries, even when their lives were in danger.
For these people, the situation is not just a legal issue, but a true humanitarian disaster. They are caught between two fires: on one side, war and devastation in Gaza; on the other, a lack of opportunities and rights in Egypt. For many, the only hope left is the chance to relocate to Spain, where they can start over and find protection.
Spain reviews new asylum requests
Spanish authorities have confirmed that the applications from Palestinians, submitted through the embassy in Cairo, are currently under review. Decisions may be made in the coming months. For many families, this is a chance to break free from a cycle of despair and gain the opportunity to live in safety, with access to education and healthcare.
Meanwhile, dozens of families keep waiting, hoping that Spain will open its doors and let them begin a new life, far from war and hardship.
