This paper explores future possibilities for Palestinian refugees in Syria who are caught in the midst of the brutal conflict between the Syrian political opposition and the Syrian regime that has now turned into a vicious civil war. This exploration begins with an analysis of the historical background of the political presence of Palestinians in Syria - as represented by the Palestine Liberation Organization, Palestinian resistance groups and Islamic groups (mainly Hamas) - and these groups’ relationship to the Syrian regime, as well as with leftist Syrian opposition parties and groups. Based on primary material, the paper assesses how the Palestinians in Syria and their political factions tried to avoid becoming involved in the current national internal conflict and how they were nevertheless finally dragged into the conflict at the end of 2012. This analysis will be carried out within the context of the Palestinians’ historical presence in Syria, the degree of their integration into Syrian society, and the civic rights (and obligations) granted to them by successive Syrian regimes since the early 1950s. In addition, the demographic characteristics of Palestinian refugees in Syria will be assessed, as well as their geographic distribution within Syrian territory. I argue that the Palestinian involvement in the Syrian conflict has not been on the scale of their role in the Lebanese civil war, and that the two cases are different and incomparable in many respects. The paper concludes by assessing possible outcomes of the conflict and its impact on the future of Palestinian refugees in Syria based on the visions of prominent politically active Palestinian actors from Syria. These include the possibility that the opposition succeeds in overthrowing the regime and in coming to power; the regime defeating the opposition and remaining in power; a compromise is reached between the two sides and power is shared; and possible positions that might be taken by neighboring Arab states, Gulf Cooperation Council states and some Western states with regards to resettling Palestinian refugees from Syria who are unable, unwilling to or barred from return to Syria.