EU countries saw rising Palestinian family reunification applications; Spain hosts Gazans via health projects and provides extensive support.
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Between 5,000 and 7,000 initial family reunification permits for Palestinian international protection beneficiaries were issued in EU countries other than Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein in 2023, with this number expected to rise to between 7,000 and 10,000 in 2024 following the events of October 7, 2023; Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy have the highest numbers. In Spain, about 800 Gazans are under international protection, many arriving through the AMAN project, a WHO-coordinated program evacuating minors with severe illnesses or uncurable injuries from Gaza via Egypt or Jordan to various Spanish autonomous communities. ACCEM manages reception, noting that families face immense emotional strain due to events in Palestine and trauma from separations caused by Israeli authorities during exit. Although initially planned for three months, most families have sought international protection in Spain, which has become a refuge offering not only medical care but also housing, language mediation, healthcare accompaniment, and crucial psychological support for both children and family members dealing with war trauma and uncertainty about returning home.
