- Immigrant Times
- Sep 19
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 20
Countries express much sympathy for Gaza, but few are willing to welcome its refugees
As Israel continues with its systematic destruction of Gaza, the question is no longer whether Gazans will flee, but whether anyone will accept them.
By The Immigrant Times*
Hundreds of thousands of Gazans had their homes destroyed. Now they have nowhere to go.
September 2025: As Gaza descends into famine, the question of where its civilians might flee, if they’re allowed to flee at all, has become both urgent and politically fraught.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Gaza has now entered Phase 5: famine. Nearly two million people are facing crisis-level hunger or worse, with over 320,000 children under five at risk of acute malnutrition. Since October 2023, at least 367 deaths have been attributed to malnutrition, including 131 children.
The humanitarian collapse is compounded by violence. More than 63,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 160,000 injured in the past two years. Civilians are dying not only from bombardments but while seeking food: 1,857 have been killed in the act of trying to survive, including over 1,000 near aid sites.
Despite international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire, aid remains critically insufficient. Gaza requires 62,000 metric tons of food per month; only 54,000 tons were delivered between May and August 2025, barely 10 per cent of what’s needed. Cooking gas has been unavailable for over five months, and firewood is now unaffordable.
In this context, the prospect of mass displacement looms. Yet few countries have stepped forward to offer refuge.
Canada has announced plans to accept up to 5,000 Gazans, prioritising those with family ties. The United States is considering similar measures for Palestinians with first-degree relatives who are citizens or permanent residents. Spain and Scotland have expressed openness, though no formal quotas have been set.
Meanwhile, key regional players remain resistant. Egypt and Jordan have refused to accept refugees, citing national security and demographic concerns. Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have remained silent or opposed, fearing destabilisation. Turkey and Qatar, despite vocal support for Palestinians, have not offered resettlement pathways.
International response to accepting refugees from Gaza
United Nations
The UN Secretary-General has warned against any form of forced displacement, emphasising the need to uphold international law. For over 70 years, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has managed the needs of Palestinian refugees, who have historically been reluctant to permanently settle in host countries to preserve their claim to return.
Arab states
Countries like Egypt and Jordan have explicitly and vehemently rejected plans to resettle large numbers of Palestinians, citing security concerns and fears of undermining the goal of an independent Palestinian state.
Egypt and Jordan
Both countries have so far refused to accept refugees from Gaza, citing national security concerns.
Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have remained largely silent on the question of accepting refugees from Gaza. Most government members contacted have expressed opposition, fearing ‘destabilisation’.
Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, and Algeria
Both countries have expressed strong support for Gaza, but have refused to consider taking in refugees.
Malaysia
The country has shown sympathy for Hamas, but has not offered any refugee pathways.
Canada
Canada established a temporary resident pathway for extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Gaza. As of late 2024, hundreds of people had arrived in Canada through this pathway, with thousands of applications accepted for processing. The government announced a plan to accept up to 5,000 Gazans, especially those with family ties.
United States
The US is considering refugee status for Gazans with first-degree relatives who are US citizens or permanent residents in the country.
Mexico
Mexico will accept Gaza refugees with strong family ties in the country. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has also indicated that she was supportive of legislation to repatriate Gaza orphans to Mexico.
Chile
Chile has already allowed 68 individuals from Gaza, including 36 children, to enter the country. Chile will welcome further refugees with family ties in the country.
United Kingdom
The UK has no dedicated visa or resettlement scheme for Palestinians from Gaza. In early 2025, a UK court ruled in favour of a Palestinian family from Gaza, allowing them to settle under human rights laws regarding family life, but a Home Office spokesperson clarified that this does not constitute a broader resettlement route.
The idea of a resettlement scheme has been robustly criticised by some British politicians who cite security concerns and pressures on public services, though others have called for a scheme similar to that for Ukrainian refugees.
Six members of the UK parliament have put forward a motion asking the government to make it clear that it will not participate in any resettlement scheme for Palestinian migrants.
The European Union
The EU and many of its member states have explicitly condemned any forced or mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and have reaffirmed support for a two-state solution. Countries like Spain, Ireland, and Belgium have been particularly critical of Israel's military operations and expressed concern over violations of international humanitarian law.
Attitudes toward accepting refugees vary among member states. While some, like Spain and Ireland, have been critical of Israel and supportive of Palestinian rights, other members, like Germany and Austria, have historically been strong allies of Israel and hesitant to increase aid to Palestinians. The EU's new Pact on Migration and Asylum also makes it easier to restrict asylum rights in certain situations.
Unlike the coordinated response for Ukrainian refugees, there is no EU-wide policy to resettle Gaza refugees. Some member states have taken in critically ill patients for medical evacuation, but this has been on a limited, case-by-case basis.
Some stark facts
• Since October 2023, some 64,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, with more than 161,000 injured.
• More than 360 UN staff have been confirmed killed.
• Some 1,900 civilians were seeking food, including 1,000 near aid sites and 840 along supply routes.
• Almost the entire population of Gaza (2.2 million) are experiencing food insecurity.
• 320,000 children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition.
• Since October 2023, 367 malnutrition-related deaths, including 131 children, have been documented.
• Between May and August 2025, only 10 per cent of the required food has been delivered. (62,000 metric tons of food are needed per month, but only 54,000 tons were delivered between May and August.)
Fazit
The contrast with the global response to Ukrainian refugees is stark. While millions of Ukrainians were welcomed by European countries and others, Gazans face closed doors, political hesitation, or worse. As Israel continues with its systematic destruction of Gaza, the question is no longer whether Gazans will flee, but whether anyone will let them.
* Methodology: The research was carried out between 15 and 19 September 2025, using sources such as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, the European Commission, Refugees International, and others.
Further reading: Private post-war plan for Gaza excludes Palestinians ||
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