Palestinian women returning to Gaza from Egypt have described traumatic treatment at the Rafah border crossing, saying they were separated from their children, restrained, blindfolded and subjected to hours of interrogation before being allowed to enter the besieged enclave.
Only a small group of Palestinians was permitted to cross back into Gaza on Monday through Rafah crossing, despite earlier assurances that dozens would be allowed to pass each day.
Reporting from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Al Jazeera correspondent Ibrahim Al Khalili said the journey for the 12 Palestinians — three women and nine children — was marked by fear, prolonged waiting and deep distress.
‘Everything Was Taken From Us’
One woman who crossed on Monday told Al Jazeera that Israeli forces confiscated nearly all belongings.
“They took everything from us — food, drinks, everything — and allowed us to keep just one bag,” she said.
She recounted being separated from her mother and children before being taken away for questioning.
“They blindfolded me and interrogated me in the first tent,” she said. “They asked why I wanted to enter Gaza. I told them I wanted to return to my country and see my children.”
According to her account, she was then transferred to another location where interrogators asked political questions unrelated to her travel.
“They threatened detention if I didn’t answer,” she said. “After three hours of questioning under threat, we were finally put on the bus.”
She said United Nations staff later received the group and transported them to Nasser Hospital, where families were eventually reunited.
Accounts of Humiliation
Another returnee, Huda Abu Abed, 56, described the experience as “a journey of horror, humiliation and oppression” in comments to Reuters.
Reuters said at least three women provided similar accounts of being handcuffed, blindfolded and interrogated for hours by Israeli forces before being allowed through.
Although about 50 Palestinians were expected to enter Gaza on Monday, Palestinian and Egyptian sources said only 12 were ultimately permitted by Israeli authorities.
Medical Evacuations Also Blocked
The restrictions affected not only returnees but also critically ill patients seeking treatment outside Gaza.
Of roughly 50 Palestinians waiting to leave Gaza on Monday for urgent medical care, only five patients — accompanied by seven relatives — were cleared to cross into Egypt, according to Reuters.
On Tuesday, just 16 more patients were allowed to exit via Rafah, said Al Jazeera correspondent Hind Khoudary.
Those numbers remain far below Israeli commitments to allow up to 50 people to cross in each direction daily.
“There is no explanation for the delays,” Khoudary said. “The process is extremely slow.”
She added that an estimated 20,000 Palestinians inside Gaza are currently awaiting urgent medical treatment abroad.
Ongoing Humanitarian Concern
Human rights groups and aid agencies have repeatedly warned that severe restrictions at Rafah are exacerbating Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, particularly for women, children and the chronically ill.
For many Palestinians, passage through Rafah remains unpredictable and traumatic — a final ordeal in a conflict that has already exacted a heavy toll on civilians.