UK Grants Asylum to Palestinian Citizen of Israel Citing 'Well-Founded Fear of Persecution'

Asylum Granted After Lengthy Legal Battle

A 26-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel, identified for his protection only as 'Hasan,' has been granted asylum in the United Kingdom. The decision, which came 'just before Christmas' 2025, followed a protracted legal battle and is believed to be the first instance of a Palestinian holding an Israeli passport receiving refugee status in the UK on such grounds. The UK Home Office ultimately recognized Hasan's 'well-founded fear of persecution' if he were to return to Israel.

Grounds for Persecution Claim

Hasan's asylum claim, initially filed in 2019 and denied in 2022, was based on several key factors:

• His involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, both in person and online, while residing in the UK.
• A fear of discrimination he would face as a Palestinian and a Muslim in Israel.
• Arguments presented by his legal team, including the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), that Israel maintains an 'apartheid system of racial domination' and that the security situation for Palestinian citizens of Israel had worsened following events in October 2023.

Documents released during the judicial review process indicated that the decision to grant refugee status in March 2024 referred to 'substantial evidence of systematic discriminatory practices against Palestinians in Israel: apartheid, forced removal, restrictions of rights and exclusion from society'.

Home Office Reversals and Judicial Review

The path to asylum was marked by significant legal twists. The Home Office initially agreed to grant Hasan refugee status on March 11, 2024, just before a scheduled tribunal hearing. However, this decision was subsequently withdrawn on March 13, 2024, following an intervention by the then-Home Secretary, James Cleverly.

With the support of the JCWI, Hasan successfully challenged this reversal through a judicial review in 2025. The Home Office was later refused permission to appeal the judicial review's outcome, leading to the final grant of asylum status.

Precedent-Setting Implications

This case is considered precedent-setting, with Hasan's lawyers suggesting it could have 'widespread ramifications' for other Palestinians seeking asylum in the UK and potentially elsewhere. The decision is seen by some as a recognition by the UK government of the persecution faced by Palestinians within Israel.