Joy Turns to Exhaustion as Thousands Remain Stranded Amid Partial Rafah Crossing Reopening

Since the partial reopening of the Rafah land crossing connecting the Gaza Strip to Egypt, surrounding areas have witnessed massive influxes of Palestinians seeking to travel or return. Yet the joy captured in photographs contrasts sharply with the prolonged and exhausting wait endured by thousands stranded travelers. With only a few dozen permitted to cross daily, hundreds remain trapped under dire humanitarian conditions, awaiting decisions that may never come.

The Exhausting Waiting Conditions at the Crossing

Unprecedented Crowding and Lack of Services

Waiting areas near Rafah crossing experience severe overcrowding, with hundreds of Palestinians spending days and nights outdoors without adequate shelter, clean water, or medical care. Many elderly individuals, patients, and children suffer worsening health conditions due to hot weather and extended waiting periods.

Unjustified Delays in Issuing Permits

Despite official claims of streamlined procedures, many applicants face unexplained permit delays or rejections without clear justification. Some families have waited for weeks without progress, deepening despair among travel applicants.

Disparity in Treatment Depending on the Applying Entity

Field testimonies indicate significant discrepancies in traveler treatment—some quickly cross for humanitarian or medical reasons, while others with identical backgrounds are denied passage without explanation. This inconsistency fuels frustration and raises questions about the transparency of the implemented system.

Limited Efforts from the Egyptian and Palestinian Sides

Egypt’s Role in Regulating the Flow

Egyptian authorities insist the crossing’s capacity remains limited for security reasons, enforcing a gradual passage policy. However, Palestinian citizens argue this approach fails to address urgent humanitarian needs, especially for those requiring critical medical treatment or prevented from traveling for studies.

Palestinian Demands to Increase Daily Capacity

Concerned Palestinian parties, including Gaza’s government, demand increasing daily crossings from dozens to hundreds. They emphasize that Rafah remains the only exit from Gaza since the closure of Kerem Shalom crossing. These appeals remain unanswered to date.

The Impact of Waiting on the Daily Lives of Gazans

Halting Projects and Treatments

Patients needing treatment abroad and students pursuing education see their dreams suspended by permit delays. Critical medical conditions have deteriorated due to waiting, while collaborative projects with external parties stalled as participants cannot travel.

Disappointment and Loss of Hope

The prolonged wait has evolved from mere exhaustion into psychological trauma for many. Protesters near the crossing are described as “trapped between suspended hope and harsh reality,” with each passing day without progress deepening despair. “We aren’t asking for much—we just want to cross,” one waiting individual stated bluntly.