Rafah Crossing Under Restrictions: A Lifeline Shackled by Violations and Militias Coordinating with the Occupation

The Rafah border crossing with Egypt remains the sole lifeline for the besieged Gaza Strip, especially given Israel's absolute control over all other land crossings. The besieged Strip covers an area of approximately 360 square kilometers, where its residents have faced a suffocating siege by land, sea, and air for decades, which intensified after the events of October 7th and the subsequent war of extermination.

More than two years after the war, which left a heavy toll of over 76,000 martyrs and missing persons, operations at the Rafah crossing began on a trial and limited basis on February 2nd. This step comes after the announcement of a ceasefire in October 2025, but the reality on the ground indicates that the crossing remains under effective control and strict security restrictions by the occupation army.

Official data indicates that the Israeli occupation is reneging on its commitments regarding the agreed-upon number of travelers within the ceasefire understandings. While hundreds were expected to cross daily, only 488 travelers were able to move within nine days, a percentage that does not reach a third of the agreed-upon numbers, exacerbating the suffering of thousands of injured and stranded individuals.

Human rights sources reported that travelers returning to the Gaza Strip are subjected to systematic abuse, including being taken to military interrogation centers at gunpoint. Testimonies speak of armed individuals belonging to local militias supported by the Israeli army, such as the 'Yasser Abu Shabāb' militia, intercepting buses and searching passengers in humiliating ways that violate privacy and human dignity.

The UN Human Rights Office revealed dangerous patterns of violations, including handcuffing and blindfolding returnees and confiscating their personal belongings at military checkpoints. The office also documented attempts by occupation officers to extort Palestinians and offer them money in exchange for working as informants or agreeing to voluntary displacement and not returning to the Strip again.

Field reports confirm that returnees are forced to pass through five complex inspection stations, starting from the Egyptian side and ending with occupation army soldiers stationed deep within the Strip. A European mission and a Palestinian administration participate in these procedures, but the final say remains with the occupation, which uses its 'counter-terrorism apparatus' belonging to local militias to interrogate citizens.

The citizen Adel Omran recounts harsh details of his return journey, where armed men stormed the bus and took the passengers in military vehicles to the 'Moraj' area between Rafah and Khan Younis. There, everyone underwent thorough searches and lengthy interrogations by occupation soldiers about the reasons for their departure and return, in a clear attempt to instill fear in the hearts of Palestinians clinging to their land.

For her part, an elderly Palestinian woman returning from a medical trip in Egypt described the interrogations as lasting more than three hours under harsh and humiliating conditions. She explained that the questions focused on people killed during the war, indicating that the purpose of these procedures is to gather intelligence and exert psychological pressure on vulnerable groups of patients and the elderly.

Human rights organizations, including 'Adalah' and 'Gisha' centers, demanded an immediate halt to these policies, which they described as amounting to 'forced displacement.' These organizations emphasized in urgent messages to Israeli officials that imposing prior security approvals and restricting return movement constitutes a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions and international humanitarian law.

The health sector in Gaza is suffering from a catastrophic situation, with approximately 22,000 injured and sick people awaiting the opportunity to leave for treatment abroad due to the destruction of hospitals. In contrast, about 80,000 Palestinians have registered their names to return to the Strip, a clear message of defiance to the occupation, confirming their categorical rejection of displacement plans despite the immense destruction.

Figures issued by the government office in Gaza indicate that strict restrictions only allow a symbolic number of crossings that do not meet the minimum humanitarian needs. Out of 1,800 people who were supposed to cross, only 275 were allowed to leave and 213 to arrive, while dozens of cases were denied departure without clear legal reasons.

The involvement of local militias such as the 'Abu Shabāb militia' in the management and inspection of the crossing raises serious concerns about the future of Palestinian administration in the Strip. Observers believe that this step aims to create distorted security alternatives operating under the command of the occupation to implement security agendas that serve the goals of the siege and hinder any attempt to restore national sovereignty over the crossings.

The director of the UN office, Ajith Sunghay, warned that the coercive practices employed aim to deter Palestinians from exercising their right to return to their homes. He stressed that ensuring the safe and dignified return of families is the minimum international responsibility that must be fulfilled after two years of widespread destruction that affected all aspects of life.

Under these circumstances, the Rafah crossing remains a testament to the continuation of Israeli policies of abuse that turn the hope for relief into a continuous agony. While thousands of Palestinians await their turn to cross, the question remains as to when this crossing will transform into a true bridge to freedom instead of being a tool for restriction and security blackmail.

What returnees are subjected to, such as blindfolding, handcuffing, and confiscation of property, constitutes a blatant violation of international law, which guarantees the right of return without arbitrary restrictions.