10 Precarious strategies Given the poverty, legal barriers and limited opportunities open to ex-Gazans, what do they do? What strategies do they use to ameliorate and improve their conditions, especially when it is unclear exactly what laws and regulations will be applicable in the future? Acquiring citizenship through marriage The ‘safest’ way to improve one’s prospects and livelihood was widely perceived to be through acquiring Jordanian citizenship. Except for a 2001 petition for naturalisation, apparently signed by 100,000 ex-Gazans (which was rejected), strategies to acquire citizenship have remained individual-, or household-based. An attractive option for ex-Gaza women, we were told, is marriage to a Jordanian citizen from other camps or neighbouring villages to ‘neutralize’ ex-Gazans’ present day or hereditary status. Ex-Gaza women who marry a Jordanian citizen can acquire citizenship after 3 years of marriage, and their children receive Jordanian citizenship. This was frequently mentioned as an aspiration: I haven’t married yet because every time someone proposes, he would be a Gazan, or someone with a national number who is too old. My mum says that I don’t get married because I only want someone with a national number. Also, you want to marry someone who has a similar way of thinking. My tribe are not all educated194. However, although women spoke of this aspiration, it is unclear how common such marriages are: it being customary for women to move to the place of residence of their husband’s family, our data does not cover Jerash camp women who have moved elsewhere for marriage. Furthermore, some interviewees claimed that Jerash camp has a poor reputation, making it difficult for Jerash residents — both men and women — to marry others 195. Men cannot acquire Jordanian citizenship through marriage, and Jordanian women cannot pass on their citizenship to their children. Despite this, both interviews and survey data revealed a number of ex-Gaza men who had married Jordanian women (of both East Jordanian and Palestinian origin), and some interviewees reported that ex-Gaza men had a preference for women with a national number, suggesting that this made it even more difficult for ex-Gaza women to find a husband. Although rights associated with citizenship are not conferred directly onto the husband, there are advantages for ex-Gaza men marrying a woman with citizenship, such as being able to register property or businesses in the wife’s name. Furthermore, steps taken to offer more civil rights to children of Jordanian mothers 196, could provide additional benefits to the children of ex-Gaza men married to Jordanian women, although these have to date been hesitantly implemented (Human Rights Watch, 2018). It is less clear why citizen families would seek such unions, given the disadvantages it brings to the children, with some interviewees suggesting that Female, age 26, Jerash town, 27 January 2016. Female, age 29, Jerash camp, 17 January 2016. 196 Cabinet decision No. 6415 Concerning the Easing of Restrictions on Children of Jordanian Mothers Married to Non-Jordanians (November 9, 2014). 194 195 ‘Just getting by’ Ex-Gazans in Jerash and other refugee camps in Jordan 113