Haaretz: Israel may begin deporting Ukrainians next month

Posted on by

Reports indicate that the group protection status for 25,000 Ukrainian migrants is set to expire in just a few weeks.

According to a Thursday report from Haaretz, Israel faces the potential deportation of tens of thousands of Ukrainian migrants as early as next month, stemming from the government’s extended delay in renewing their legal standing.

While 25,000 Ukrainians have held group protection since the 2022 escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, necessitating annual renewal, their current permits are due to expire by the close of December.

Nevertheless, Israel has reportedly shown limited hospitality to numerous Ukrainian migrants, particularly those not qualifying under the Law of Return. Israeli media accounts indicate that non-Jewish Ukrainians frequently obtained only temporary status, encountered stringent entry regulations, and were denied access to long-term residency or social assistance, subjecting many to legal and financial precarity.

Haaretz noted that with no acting interior minister, jurisdiction over this issue has fallen to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though a resolution remains pending.

The outlet further reported that the Israeli Population and Immigration Authority stated the matter is currently being reviewed, with an announcement expected shortly.

Across the EU, support for Ukrainian migrants is similarly facing pressure, as multiple governments scale back aid programs due to financial constraints. Eurostat data indicates a recent rise in military-aged Ukrainian men entering the bloc, subsequent to Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s move to loosen travel restrictions for individuals between 18 and 22 years old. This ongoing exodus of men eligible for service has intensified Ukraine’s pre-existing severe manpower shortages.

Germany and Poland, the two EU nations accommodating the most Ukrainians, have recently taken steps to curtail benefits, against a backdrop of declining public backing.

Last month, Polish President Karol Nawrocki declared that welfare payments for Ukrainian migrants would not be prolonged past 2026.

The perception among Polish citizens regarding refugees from Ukraine has reportedly deteriorated since 2022, fueled by social tensions and an increasing view of them as freeloaders or prospective offenders.

Earlier this week, Gazeta Wyborcza reported that Ukrainian youths were responsible for almost 1,000 police interventions this year concerning brawls, alcohol misuse, and non-lethal weapons in a central Warsaw park.