Palestinians fleeing Gaza for Egypt pay thousands to broker
Cross-Border Fleeing from Gaza Becoming More Difficult
With rising death toll and the threat of a ground operation by Israel, escaping from Gaza has become increasingly challenging. The Rafah border crossing, the only open exit point, is tightly controlled, making it difficult for Palestinians to leave the besieged territory.
Those attempting to flee Gaza must navigate a complicated approval process, which includes applying through Hala Consulting and Tourism. The cost to exit Gaza is exorbitant, with adults facing fees upwards of $5,000 and children $2,500. Despite the high costs, hundreds of Palestinians are paying these fees daily to leave through the Rafah border.
The process is considered murky, with rules changing frequently, and there are allegations that Egyptian officials are profiting from the high fees paid by Palestinians. Crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe are being used to raise money for relatives trying to escape.
This issue has become a sensitive topic in Egypt, with some media outlets facing legal action for covering the plight of Palestinians attempting to flee Gaza. However, Egyptian Foreign Minister has expressed his intention to restrict and eliminate these high fees for crossing the border.
The fees for exiting Gaza are not only making it harder for Palestinians to escape danger but are also being seen as an opportunity to bring dollars into the Egyptian market. It is clear that urgent action is needed to address this humanitarian crisis and allow Palestinians to leave Gaza safely.
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