A 26-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel has been granted asylum in the United Kingdom, following a protracted legal fight that saw direct intervention from former Home Secretary James Cleverly to try and block the claim.
A Life in Limbo Ends with Refugee Status
The man, known only as Hasan due to a court order, is believed to be the first Palestinian holding an Israeli passport to be given refugee status in the UK. Born in Israel, he arrived in Britain as a baby and has lived almost his entire life here with his mother and siblings, yet was repeatedly denied leave to remain or citizenship.
He applied for asylum nearly seven years ago, arguing he faced a well-founded fear of persecution in Israel. His claim was based on his involvement in pro-Palestinian activism both in person and online while in the UK, and on the discrimination he would face as a Palestinian Muslim. His initial application was refused by the Home Office, setting the stage for a lengthy battle.
Political Intervention and Legal Victory
The case took a dramatic turn on 11 March 2024, when, the day before his first-tier tribunal hearing, Hasan was informed he would be granted refugee status subject to security checks. However, following media reporting, the Home Office abruptly withdrew that decision.
Documents released later revealed this U-turn came after an intervention from James Cleverly. On 13 March 2024, Cleverly's deputy private secretary wrote to officials asking for "urgent advice" on options, including "to withdraw and revoke the asylum claim."
An official's response the next day pushed back, stating that if an applicant meets the legal criteria for refugee status, "there is nothing on which it would be proper for ministers to decide." The original grant decision had cited "substantial evidence of systematic discriminatory practices against Palestinians in Israel."
With support from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), Hasan successfully brought a judicial review over the reversal. After the Home Office was refused permission to appeal, he was finally granted asylum just before Christmas 2024.
Decades of Precarity and a Call for Accountability
Hasan described the profound impact of the long battle. "I've lived here all my life – but the Home Office’s cruel actions have kept me in precarity for decades," he said. For years, he was denied the right to work, study, or rent a home normally.
His solicitor, Taher Gulamhussein of JCWI, highlighted that three separate Home Office decision-makers had concluded there was only "one conclusion" – that Hasan was a refugee. "Three home secretaries, both Tory and Labour, and their Home Office, have wasted public money," he stated, arguing they tried to deny what their own officials accepted.
JCWI spokesperson Seema Syeda raised questions about potential diplomatic pressure from Israel on the home secretary. Hasan is now seeking damages and has faced further delays in receiving his eVisa, which is needed to secure housing and employment.
The Home Office's final letter to Hasan confirmed: "We accept you have a well-founded fear of persecution and therefore cannot return to your country, Israel." Both the Home Office and James Cleverly were approached for comment on the case.
