Transferring A Palestinian Prisoner To A Different Cell Also Makes Him A Refugee

by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)

Geneva, July 1 – UNRWA notes with grave concern the forcible movement of registered Palestine Refugee Mahmoud al-Khalidi from Cell Block C to Cell Block D at Megiddo Prison on 27 June 2026. This administrative action constitutes a new displacement event and triggers UNRWA’s protection mandate under its founding General Assembly resolution.

Mr. al-Khalidi, a registered refugee since birth and holder of UNRWA-issued documentation, was relocated approximately 32 meters within the facility. The move resulted in the permanent loss of access to his previously assigned living space, including personal markings and spatial arrangements developed over fourteen years of confinement, allegedly in the context of four life imprisonment sentences for the murder of Israeli civilians, but come on.

In line with established precedents regarding forced displacement, UNRWA has updated his status to reflect this latest incidence of internal transfer.

UNRWA recalls that Palestine refugees remain refugees until a just and durable solution is achieved, irrespective of subsequent movements. The Agency’s consistent position remains that any relocation from territory — including sub-territories such as prison cells to which a refugee has established habitual residence — engages core provisions of international humanitarian law and UNRWA’s operational framework. Preliminary assessments indicate that Mr. al-Khalidi’s transfer meets the criteria for a new displacement registration.

Field staff have verified the following: the original cell featured specific environmental characteristics to which the beneficiary had adapted; the destination cell presents altered orientation, ventilation patterns, and fixture placement. These changes represent a disruption of continuity and are therefore recorded as a protection incident in UNRWA’s Refugee Registration Information System (RRIS).

The Agency reiterates its call upon all parties to refrain from actions that may exacerbate the protracted refugee situation. UNRWA further urges the international community to recognize that incremental displacements, even within confined spaces, compound the overall refugee caseload and necessitate sustained funding for emergency response, legal accompaniment, and psychosocial support.In accordance with its humanitarian remit, UNRWA has already initiated the necessary documentation processes. Mr. al-Khalidi will receive updated refugee credentials reflecting his changed circumstances. The Agency stands ready to provide interim assistance should conditions in the new cell warrant supplementary rations or hygiene kits.

UNRWA will continue to monitor all prison-related movements involving registered refugees. Each transfer is assessed on its merits against the Agency’s protection thresholds. Preliminary data for 2026 already indicate a worrying trend in cell reallocations across multiple facilities.The situation remains fluid. UNRWA will issue further updates as additional information becomes available and reaffirms its commitment to the rights and well-being of all Palestine refugees, wherever they may be situated — including within correctional sub-units.

We have also issued Mr. al-Khalidi a sixth rusty key to symbolize his grandfather’s cowardice.

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