Gaza Residents Face Harsh Israeli Treatment Upon Returning via Rafah

JAKARTA - The first group of Palestinians who returned to Gaza after undergoing medical treatment in Egypt through the reopened Rafah crossing faced interrogation, harsh treatment, and threats of detention from Israel.

The head of the Gaza Ministry of Health's spokesman, Zaher al-Wahidi, told RIA Novosti that only five patients were allowed to leave for treatment, while 12 residents returning from Egypt were treated badly.

"They reported being interrogated, treated harshly, threatened to be detained or sent back to Egypt, including women," al-Wahidi said, referring to the first day of the opening of the crossing as very bad.

The Rafah crossing on the Egyptian-Gaza border reopened on Monday after months of closure following the Israeli army's takeover of the territory in May 2024.

Based on the applicable arrangements, up to 150 Gazans are allowed to leave the area every day, while 50 residents are allowed to enter from Egypt after going through the procedures set.

The management of the crossing is carried out by the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) in cooperation with Egyptian authorities and through security coordination with Israel.

Every day, Egypt submits a list of 50 Gazans who want to enter the territory to get Israeli security approval, while EUBAM submits a list of 150 people who will leave with their final destination.

Before the war in Gaza, Rafah was the only crossing in the Palestinian territories that was not directly controlled by Israel.

This border gate plays an important role for humanitarian assistance, evacuation of injured victims, and international vital supplies.

Source: Sputnik/RIA Novosti