Gaza in 1948 or residents originally from Gaza displaced for the first time in 1967, did not hold, and were generally not granted, Jordanian citizenship. Both groups are collectively referred to in this report as ‘ex-Gazans’ 13. The ‘ex’ serves the purpose both of including those displaced via Gaza as well as those from Gaza and of distinguishing these groups’ distinct status compared to Gazans that came to Jordan later. Importantly, ex-Gazans do not generally have the right to return to the Gaza Strip. Ascertaining exact numbers of ex-Gazans arriving to the East Bank following the war is fraught with difficulties (UNGA 1968; De Bel-Air, 2012); however, by the end of 1968, UNRWA’s registration records show the Agency had ‘re-registered’ more than 23,000 of the around 300,000 Palestine refugees formerly registered in Gaza (UNRWA, 1967, 1968); and a year later, close to 30,000 (UNRWA, 1969). Today, several generations later, the number of ex-Gazans registered with UNRWA in Jordan stands slightly above 160,00014. However, it is important to note that UNRWA’s operational definition of ‘Palestine Refugee’ — a person ‘whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period of 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948, and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict’ (UNRWA, 2009, pt. III.A.1) — only includes those ex-Gazans and their descendants (through the male line) who had already become refugees in 1948 and were experiencing a second displacement in 1967. It does not include the unknown number of Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip, and their descendants, who fled to Jordan for the first time in 1967 or later arrived after years of residence in other countries. Nor do UNRWA’s registration numbers account for ex-Gazans who may have left Jordan or, through marriage or other means, acquired Jordanian or other citizenship. Government figures are unavailable, thus the overall number of ex-Gazans without citizenship currently living in Jordan is not publicly available and remains a guestimate. Legal status and documentation There is no specific legislation pertaining to ex-Gazans’ status in Jordan as such; they remain classified as foreign Arabs but are recognized as permanent ‘temporary’ residents. Accordingly, concessions have been made in terms of documentation and civil registration, access to public services and the labour market. Since 1968, ex-Gazans have been issued with a variety of Jordanian documents: initially a Jordanian travel document (‘temporary passport’), taking the place of previouslyheld Egyptian travel documents15 to facilitate travel, and a personal ID card (‘ID card for ex-Gazans’ 16, commonly referred to as the ‘blue card’) in 1974 to ease daily transactions17. Whilst the current ‘Special Residency Card for ex-Gazans’ 18 (‘white card’) has been available to all ex-Gazans over the age of 16 since the mid-2000s19, the temporary passport, of The term ‘ex-Gazan’ appears to have been introduced by UNRWA to describe formerly registered Palestine Refugees registered with UNRWA in Gaza whose files were transferred to Jordan, listed as ‘ex-Gaza’ in UNRWA documents (UNRWA, 1968). The Arabic term used by the Government of Jordan (for example in passport regulations and on ID cards) is abna’ qita’ gaza [literal translation: sons of the Gaza Strip], which notably does not include an equivalent of ‘ex’. 14 Information provided by UNRWA, 12 March 2019. 15 Ex-Gazans could exchange their Egyptian travel documents for Jordanian temporary passport (travel document) until 2000 (interview with Civil Status Department, 25 February 2016). Several ex-Gazans interviewed continued to renew and travel on their Egyptian travel documents until well into the 1980s. 16 Bitaqat shakhsia la abna’ qita’ gaza. 17 Interview with Civil Status Department, 25 February 2016; Jalal Al Husseini, December 2017. 18 Bitaqat iqama mo’aqqata khasa bibna’ qita’ gaza. 19 Interview with Civil Status Department, 25 February 2016. 13 ‘Just getting by’ Ex-Gazans in Jerash and other refugee camps in Jordan 19