Listen to the article
Palestinian Women Describe Harrowing Treatment at Israeli Checkpoint After Rafah Crossing Reopens
Three Palestinian women who were among the first civilians allowed to return to Gaza through the recently reopened Rafah crossing have reported being blindfolded, handcuffed, and interrogated by Israeli forces at a screening checkpoint.
The women, who spoke to The Associated Press on Tuesday, described a distressing process that turned what should have been a homecoming into an ordeal of intimidation and humiliation. They were part of a group of just 12 Palestinians—mostly women, children, and elderly—permitted to enter Gaza on Monday when the crossing reopened after being largely closed throughout the Israel-Hamas war. Israeli forces took control of the crossing in May.
“They interrogated us and asked us about everything that happened in Gaza,” said Sabah al-Qara, a 57-year-old from Khan Younis who had left Gaza in December 2023 for medical treatment in Egypt. “We were outside Gaza and knew nothing…. The Israelis humiliated us.”
When asked about these allegations, the Israeli military denied any misconduct, stating: “No incidents of inappropriate treatment, mistreatment, apprehensions, or confiscation of property by the Israeli security establishment are known.” The Shin Bet intelligence agency and COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Rotana al-Regeb, who was returning with her mother, Huda Abu Abed, after they left Gaza in March 2023 for medical treatment, provided a detailed account of their experience. After being transported by bus through the crossing to the Israeli military zone, they were ordered out and searched by members of an Israeli-backed Palestinian armed group called Abu Shabab.
Al-Regeb described finding her mother kneeling on the floor, blindfolded with her hands handcuffed behind her back, when she was called into what she termed “a humiliation room.” She said Israeli soldiers subjected her to the same treatment and interrogated her about Hamas and other matters in Gaza—”things we didn’t know and had no connection to.”
Most alarmingly, al-Regeb claimed the Israeli forces pressured her to become an informant. “They threatened that they will detain me and I won’t return to my children,” she said. Al-Regeb has five children living with her husband in a tent in Khan Younis.
The reopening of Rafah has been complicated by strict procedures. Under the current arrangement, a European Union mission and Palestinian officials operate the border crossing, but Israel must first approve the names of those entering. Israeli authorities then conduct additional screening at a separate facility where they verify identities against Defense Ministry lists and check luggage.
The women reported that returnees were banned from bringing in liquids, including drinking water. Each passenger was allowed one mobile phone and up to 2,000 shekels (approximately $650) if declared 24 hours in advance. Electronic devices and cigarettes were prohibited according to posted instructions.
Human rights organizations have long accused Israel of mistreating Palestinians at checkpoints in Gaza and the West Bank, and of using these opportunities to gather intelligence and recruit informants. These latest allegations further reinforce those concerns.
The process was also marred by confusion and delays. Al-Regeb said 42 Palestinian patients and their companions arrived at the Egyptian side of Rafah at 6 a.m., completed paperwork by 10 a.m., but then waited until around 6 p.m. for the gate to open. Ultimately, only one bus carrying just 12 people was allowed through.
The women also reported that much of their luggage—containing gifts for relatives—was confiscated by the European team on the Gazan side. “We were only allowed to take the clothes on our backs and one bag per person,” al-Regeb said.
After their release from the Israeli screening facility, UN buses transported them to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where they finally arrived at 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
Hamas condemned the alleged treatment, calling it “fascist behavior and organized terrorism,” and urged mediators to ensure travelers’ safety during transit. Rights groups warn that such incidents could deter others from attempting to cross, undermining confidence in the fragile reopening process.
The significance of the crossing extends beyond these initial returnees. More than 110,000 Palestinians fled Gaza in the early months of the war before Rafah was closed, and thousands of patients were evacuated for medical treatment abroad. According to a Palestinian Embassy official in Egypt, approximately 30,000 Palestinians have registered to return to Gaza.
However, the current pace of returns—with Israeli officials suggesting around 50 Palestinians per day would be allowed back—means most will face an extended wait, if they can return at all.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
6 Comments
As someone interested in the complex geopolitics of the region, I’m curious to hear more details about the security protocols and screening procedures at the Rafah crossing. Balancing legitimate security concerns with the rights of civilians is a delicate challenge.
That’s a good point. The security measures should aim to be thorough yet respectful of human dignity. Allegations of mistreatment undermine confidence in the process and call for further investigation.
This is a troubling report of alleged mistreatment of Palestinian civilians at the Rafah crossing. More transparency and accountability from Israeli forces would be helpful to understand the situation fully.
Agreed, the accounts of blindfolding, handcuffing, and interrogation are concerning. The Israeli military’s denial of misconduct raises more questions that need to be addressed.
Restricting movement and subjecting returning civilians to such treatment is deeply problematic. The reopening of the Rafah crossing should have been an opportunity for smoother homecomings, not further hardship.
Absolutely, the women’s accounts paint a disturbing picture that contradicts the stated purpose of the crossing’s reopening. More transparency is needed to ensure the fair and humane treatment of all who pass through.