It is difficult to imagine the daily life of a family with two young children in the Gaza Strip. How do you survive without electricity for most of the day in the absence of a normal livelihood and work? What about no drinkable water? How do you live in a Hamas-ruled territory, in a territory where you don't know if a shrapnel will fall on your house? What future can these children have in Gaza?

In search of answers to these questions, we embarked on a conversation with Ibrahim and Deria. They are Palestinian refugees and, together with their daughter, they came to Bulgaria from the Gaza Strip three years ago. Meanwhile, a son was born in Bulgaria. We heard from them on the phone, Ibrahim was on his lunch break, and Derria was at home with the kids:[1]

FAR: What made you leave Gaza?

Ibrahim: We left Gaza because of problems with Hamas. In Gaza, you are either with Hamas or against them. There is no middle ground! If Hamas sends you a summons and requests your presence, everyone knows what that means. You may never come back. There were cases where they called men and made them go to riots and protests to provoke the Israeli army. I did not want to participate in these acts, but simply to live peacefully with my family. But my refusal to obey makes me a "traitor" and an "enemy."

FAR: What was your life like in Gaza?

Ibrahim: There is a lot of tension, we are occupied, we live as if we are in a rectangle. 90% of young people have nothing to work for. There is constant bombing between Gaza and Israel. Bombs often fell in our apartment. It is now in ruins. It is practically impossible to move and live elsewhere in Gaza as it is very expensive.

Deria: There is some care for children, which is provided by UNRWA, for example. There is no problem with children enrolling in kindergarten or school, but the pressure we live under is not good for anyone, especially children.

FAR: Can UNRWA help you?

Ibrahim: It's almost impossible. They have almost no activity anymore. Their help has shrunk. Food aid is given every 3-4 months. On the other hand, against Hamas, no one and nothing can help us, including UNRWA.

FAR: How did you get to Bulgaria?

Deria: We entered Bulgaria through Greece. After that, our whole family ended up in the detention center for foreigners in Busmantsi. I was with our minor daughter for 1 month after which they let us go. My husband was there for 4 months even though we had applied for protection to the refugee agency.

Ibrahim: After we came to Bulgaria, we submitted our first applications for protection, but they did not immediately release us from the closed camp. But even after we were released, our entire family was subsequently permanently refused protection. These refusals were also confirmed by the Supreme Administrative Court.

Together with the FAR lawyers, we re-filed applications for protection, presenting evidence to the refugee agency that we are registered with UNRWA and recognized as Palestinian refugees. We explained in detail that since it is not safe in Gaza, we cannot go back there and we cannot benefit from UNRWA protection again. That is why we are seeking protection in Bulgaria. My request was denied. We appealed to the court and the court accepted my appeal. But then the refugee agency refused me again and my case is now being heard in court. My wife and daughter's applications were granted, but the State Agency for Refugees refused them as well. Now we appeal again in court and hope to get justice.

FAR: Now, if you are denied protection in Bulgaria again, can you return to Gaza?

Deria: It's impossible to go back there. The return to Gaza only goes through Egypt. It's easier to go around the world, then you have a chance to get there faster than going through Egypt. Even if we somehow get to Gaza, it's not safe for my husband there. They look for men more than for the rest.

FAR: What do you think of Bulgaria? After three years of living here, would you stay?

Ibrahim: We like Bulgaria. We have acquaintances, and friends, we don't want to leave. It is a bit difficult for our older child because it is hard to find a kindergarten place here. Bulgarians also have this problem. We like to go to the mountains. Our favorite place is Vitosha!

Deria: I dream of studying and then working. It is expensive to study in Gaza. I studied management there and I want to continue studying it here too!

Their young daughter woke up from her afternoon nap and demanding attention, and Ibrahim had to go back to work. It is not a small responsibility for young parents who want the best for their children in a calm and safe environment. With these dreams of a good future, our conversation ended.

Months after the birth of their second child, in 2022, the Bulgarian authorities recognized that he was in fact a Bulgarian citizen, as he was a stateless person born on the territory of Bulgaria. Both Ibrahim and Deria are stateless and have no citizenship to pass on to their children. On the day their little son received Bulgarian citizenship, Ibrahim said:

After the birth of my children and since I have been here in Bulgaria, this is my happiest day. I know now at least one of my children is safe and has a future!

On the same day, he was again refused protection, but the smile never left his face...

This article was prepared by the Foundation for Access to Rights-FAR under a project funded by the European Network for Stateless Persons. The purpose of the project is to investigate the situation of Palestinian refugees from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in Bulgaria and the application of Article 1D of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees to them.

For more information, see our report on the topic.