PALESTINIAN REFUGEES IN GAZA: THE UNRWA AND BEYOND

Öz

After 7 October 2023, already problematic Palestinian–Israeli ties turned into a catastrophe. Some legal issues have arisen because of the impossibility of departure from the Gaza Strip and the difficulties Palestinians in Gaza have experienced in receiving protection from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) because of ongoing bombardment. To explain the dire circumstances in Gaza and the difficulties of receiving aid from UNRWA, this Article turns its attention to Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou for C-563/22 of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Advocate General Emiliou explains why Palestinian refugees can seek protection elsewhere besides the UNRWA. Suppose that, in a relevant asylum application, the Palestinian applicant could argue that UNRWA’s protection has ended, given the continuing undignified living conditions in the Gaza Strip. In that case, we must consider if it is feasible for the person concerned to get protection elsewhere. First, this Article walks readers into history to identify the root causes of the Palestine–Israel conflict. Second, pondering the opinion of the Advocate General and the relevant international legal regulations, this article explains where and by whom protection can be anticipated for Palestinian refugees other than UNRWA. This Article settles that the reluctance of some states to protect refugees puts Palestinians’ protection claims in jeopardy.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Palestine
• statelessness
• refugee
• asylum seekers
• protection of refugees
• UNRWA
• Court of Justice of the European Union

Etik Beyan

There is no requirement of Ethics Committee Approval for this study.

Gazze’deki Filistinli Mülteciler: UNRWA ve Ötesi

Öz

Hali hazırda sorunlu olan Filistin-İsrail ilişkileri, 7 Ekim 2023 tarihinden sonra bir felakete dönüşmüştür. Gazze Şeridi’nden ayrılmanın imkansızlığı ve devam eden bombardımanın etkisiyle, Gazze’deki Filistinlilerin Birleşmiş Milletler Filistinli Mültecilere Yardım ve Bayındırlık Ajansı’ndan (UNRWA) koruma almakta yaşadıkları zorluklara bağlı olarak bazı hukuki sorunlar ortaya çıkmıştır. Gazze’de ortaya çıkan vahim koşulları ve UNRWA’dan yardım almak hususunda vuku bulan zorlukları açıklamak amacıyla bu makale, Avrupa Birliği Adalet Divanı’nın C-563/22 sayılı davasına ilişkin Avrupa Birliği Adalet Divanı Başsavcısı Nicholas Emiliou’nun verdiği görüş paylaşımını incelemektedir. Başsavcı Emiliou, Filistinli mültecilerin neden UNRWA dışında başka bir yerde koruma arayabileceğini bahsi geçen görüş paylaşımında açıklamaktadır. İlgili bir sığınma başvurusunda, başvurucu Filistinlinin, UNRWA korumasının Gazze Şeridi’nde süregelen insan onuruna yakışmayan yaşam koşulları dikkate alındığında sona erdiğini ileri sürebileceğini varsayalım. Bu durumda, ilgili kişinin başka bir yerde koruma aramasının mümkün olup olmadığını dikkate almalıyız. İlk olarak, makale okuyucuların Filistin-İsrail çatışmasının temel nedenlerini anlamalarını sağlamak amacıyla ilgili tarihi gelişmelere dikkati çeker. İkinci olarak, Başsavcı’nın görüşlerini ve mevcut uluslararası yasal düzenlemeleri dikkate alarak, UNRWA dışında Filistinli mültecilerin korunmasının sağlanması hususunun nereden ve kim tarafından gerçekleştirilmesinin beklenebileceğini açıklar. Bu makale, bazı devletlerin mültecileri koruma konusundaki isteksizliğinin aynı zamanda Filistinlilerin koruma taleplerini tehlikeye attığını ortaya koyar.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Filistin
• vatansızlık
• mülteci
• sığınma arayan kişiler
• mültecilerin korunması
• UNRWA
• Avrupa Birliği Adalet Divanı

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