Despite the high risk of dying from war, starvation or disease, Gazans are still not allowed to enter Egypt — except for those who bribe the authorities.
And the European Union Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) cannot be deployed due to security reasons.
This comes amid international criticism calling for Israel to call off its ground operations in Rafah, in southern Gaza, where 1.5 million Palestinians, most of them displaced, are trapped.
Thirteen kilometres of border separate Egypt and Gaza. Rafah is the only border crossing not exclusively under Israel’s control, but this offers little relief for the Gazans, who find themselves trapped as Egypt maintains its refusal to open the border.
While some individuals, predominantly holders of foreign passports, have been allowed to cross, most remain stuck with no means of escape.
“We possess Egyptian passports. It should be self-evident that we are permitted entry to our own country. However, they only allowed me and the children to pass through, and not my husband,” 32-year-old Rawan told EUobserver in Cairo.
Like others with family members in Gaza, she prefers not to disclose her full name to the media.
