Immigration9/28/2026

UK to Give Palestinians Priority in New Refugee Resettlement Program

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced a new limited program for the resettlement of asylum seekers. Priority will be given to Palestinians, as well as to women and girls from Afghanistan; together, these groups will account for one-quarter of the refugees admitted under the program.

Key facts

•Announcement: September 28, 2026
•Program initiator: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood
•Country: United Kingdom
•First stage: hundreds of refugees
•Priority groups: Palestinians, Afghan women and girls
•Share represented by priority groups: one-quarter of participants

What the UK Government Announced

The program is intended to create a safe and legal route into the UK for people fleeing war or persecution. In the first stage, the authorities intend to admit hundreds of refugees, and the number may later increase to several thousand if the decline in illegal immigration continues.

Who Will Be Admitted

Priority will be given to Palestinians, as well as to Afghan women and girls. According to Mahmood, these categories will together account for one-quarter of all participants in the program, who will receive the right to permanent residence in the UK. The source does not specify precise selection criteria, the application process, or when admissions will begin.

Rationale for the Program

Mahmood stated that the program would enable the UK to fulfill its international obligations to admit people fleeing war and persecution. At the same time, it is intended to serve as an alternative to dangerous and illegal attempts to cross the English Channel in small boats.

Political Response

The program drew criticism from the right and from conservatives in the UK who support a stricter immigration policy. Opposition representatives questioned the safety of admitting Palestinians and pointed to the possibility of family reunification at a later stage. The material presented did not report the enactment of separate legislation or the approval of a complete regulatory framework for the program.

What this means for you

For Palestinians, including those located in Israel or the Palestinian territories, the program may create a new legal route for resettlement in the UK. However, the report does not make it possible to determine exactly who will be eligible to apply, when admissions will begin, or which documents will be required. The announcement itself does not confer an automatic right of entry or permanent residence.

Find a lawyer for this topic

Case analysis based on court rulings