VIENNA – The Jolani regime in Damascus has imposed sweeping new entry restrictions on Palestinians, ending decades of open-entry rights. On January 20th, 2026, the Palestinian Embassy in Syria confirmed that Palestinian travel document holders are now barred from entering the country without prior authorization.

Under the new regulations, entry now requires permit approval through the Ministry of Interior and a formal sponsor or a relative already residing in the country.

This policy effectively nullifies Law No. 260, passed in 1956. For 70 years, this landmark legislation made Syria the only Arab nation to grant Palestinians rights equal to those of its own citizens. While Palestinians were denied citizenship to protect their “Right of Return” and prevent permanent displacement, Law 260 ensured they could work, own property, and access state services— rights often denied to them in neighboring countries like Lebanon, where Palestinians are barred from owning property.