Much has been made of US President Donald Trump’s decision to halt aid to Ukraine following an explosive meeting in the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As fighting between Russia and Ukraine drags on, the situation is becoming harder and harder to bear for some 23,000 Ukrainian asylum seekers in Israel, many of whom are unemployed and lack access to basic rights. That’s according to a new report published by ASSAF, an organization supporting asylum seekers in Israel.
The 23,000 or so Ukrainian asylum seekers in Israel are in addition to the thousands of Ukrainians who were recognized as eligible for immigration to Israel according to the law of return, which applies to anyone who is Jewish or has at least one Jewish grandparent. Those who immigrate to Israel under the law of return are eligible for significant support from the state, unlike asylum seekers, the temporary government support that was provided to whom has now been significantly reduced.
“At the same time, the assistance provided to the refugees by relatives and volunteers, who initially helped with clothing, food, and shelter, has dwindled over the past two years,” th ASSAF report noted. “Civil society can no longer replace the state in providing the necessary support system for the refugees.”
The situation report, published to mark the third anniversary of the war between Russia and Ukraine, reveals that Ukrainian asylum seekers in Israel find themselves without official status, rights, or certainty about their future. The experience of fleeing war in their homeland—only to face another war in their place of refuge—has heightened their already vulnerable situation, which continues to deteriorate.
The organization describes in the report that the Ukrainian asylum seekers are currently residing in Israel under “group protection from deportation,” as the state recognizes that they cannot be returned to Ukraine. When the refugees first arrived nearly three years ago, Israel provided assistance, including health care services, food vouchers, and housing support, but that has now dried up. Additionally, organizations that once supported Ukrainian refugees have closed related projects, with ASSAF being one of the few organizations that continues to run an individual assistance program for this population.
Ulyana Driuchkova, coordinator of mapping and support for Ukrainian refugees at ASSAF, said that the complex situation of Ukrainian asylum seekers highlights the need for greater support.
“Our extensive experience assisting refugees from Eritrea and Sudan has shown that without an adequate social safety net, this community will continue to deteriorate into poverty, food insecurity, and severe physical and mental health issues,” Driuchkova told Davar. “Three years after Ukrainian refugees arrived in Israel, the state—currently experiencing one of the most difficult periods in its history—must acknowledge that being a refugee is not a choice but a necessity, the result of personal, family, and national tragedy. The state must renew and expand the aid provided to Ukrainian refugees and their children, ensuring they can live with dignity and security.”
She said that ASSAF would continue to support individual asylum seekers and advocate for the community’s rights until the asylum seekers are either able to return home or are granted sufficient support by the state.
In February 2024, Judge Michal Agmon Gonnen ruled that the Population Authority must issue special tourist visas to all Ukrainian citizens residing in Israel under temporary protection. However, as of July 2024, only about 1,800 refugees hold this visa, which does not grant significant rights, requires frequent renewal, and includes a clause requiring applicants to sign a voluntary deportation agreement—a requirement that induces fear and pressure, discouraging many from applying or engaging with the authorities.
The vague policy of non-enforcement further exacerbates the hardships faced by refugees. Although Israeli law allows refugees with tourist status to work legally, data collected by ASSAF shows that 39% of Ukrainian women seeking assistance are unemployed, while 26% work under irregular or illegal conditions. Many employers refuse to hire asylum seekers due to the lack of official work visas in their passports or simply because they are unfamiliar with the regulations. This situation makes it difficult for refugees to find work and earn a dignified livelihood, leaving them vulnerable to exploitative and abusive employment conditions.
Additionally, the lack of proper visas limits the community’s access to public services, banking, and housing, worsening their economic and social distress.
The ambiguous policies toward Ukrainian refugees over the past three years are also evident in the community’s access to health care services. A striking example is the sudden termination of medical services to asylum seekers in August 2023, which put patients' lives at serious risk. These services were reinstated only after public protests and legal petitions, and even then, only partially and temporarily.
New health care regulations introduced in 2024, following lawsuits by ASSAF and other organizations, excluded asylum seekers aged 18–60, assuming they would be covered by their employers. However, the policy overlooked those who are unable to work or are at risk of exploitative employment. Even those eligible under the new rules face bureaucratic obstacles, particularly children and the elderly. As a result, many refugees remain without proper access to health care, deepening their economic and medical struggles.
After three years of displacement due to the war in their homeland, Ukrainian refugees in Israel are now facing new traumas from the local conflict. Hamas’ attack triggered painful war memories for many of them, yet due to lack of access to mental health services, they are not receiving the necessary support.
This article was translated from Hebrew by Nancye Kochen.
