Thorough Inspection and Forced Confiscations.. Harsh Testimonies of Palestinians Returning to Gaza via Rafah Crossing

Palestinian travelers returning to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah land crossing face a series of complex security procedures and meticulous inspections that exacerbate the burden of displacement and treatment abroad. Testimonies from returnees reveal a bitter reality where physical exhaustion mixes with psychological pressure, as essential belongings and vital medications are lost in the corridors of the crossing, which is under strict control from multiple parties, turning the return journey into a harsh experience lacking the most basic humanitarian standards.

In one painful story, citizen Umm Muhammad recounted the details of losing a chemotherapy dose intended for her husband, who suffers from cancer. She had placed it in a thermal container to ensure its safety during travel. The woman confirmed that she was surprised by the disappearance of the dose after the inspection stages, which are supervised by international and Israeli parties, noting that the loss of this treatment represents a severe blow to a patient fighting a daily battle for survival, given the difficulty of securing medical alternatives within the besieged Strip.

On another note, strict restrictions on personal belongings stand as an additional obstacle for returnees, as regulations prohibit the entry of more than one mobile phone per person. Umm Jihad, who returned with her injured son, recounted how she had to seek mediation and coordination to secure the entry of phones she had bought for her family, explaining that the control at the crossing was so precise that they knew the number of devices she had before she even reached the final inspection point, reflecting the extent of the imposed surveillance.

The suffering was not limited to medications and devices but extended to the confiscation and destruction of goods that the occupation prohibits from entering in commercial quantities, such as cigarettes, which are scarce in Gaza's markets. Shaima Yahya, who was accompanying her amputee sister, reported that the occupation authorities confiscated quantities of tobacco she had and burned them in front of her eyes in designated ovens in the inspection area, a scene she described as shocking and provocative, especially given the difficult health conditions her family is experiencing.

These testimonies summarize the reality of crossing through Rafah, where administrative and security procedures turn into tools to multiply the suffering of the wounded and sick. While returnees hope to reach their homes safely, their aspirations clash with the reality of confiscations and humiliating inspections, making the crossing an additional point of attrition added to the series of crises experienced by the residents of the Gaza Strip amidst the ongoing war and siege.

What hurts is not the loss of belongings, but the loss of a dose of treatment needed by a cancer patient who has been fighting death for months.