Up to 3,000 residents of the Gaza Strip have been stranded on the Egyptian side of the border with the Gaza Strip since June 9, unable to cross the border and return to their homes.
The Rafah border crossing, located at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, came under Hamas control two weeks ago after the Islamist movement seized power by force in Gaza. The border was subsequently closed and the European supervisors, along with the Palestinian and Egyptian forces managing the border, left.
"These Palestinians are now staying with relatives or in hotels in the Egyptian border towns of Al-‘Arish and Rafah, and those who have run out of money for hotels are staying at the terminal gates, waiting to return to their homes," spokeswoman for the U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) in Cairo, Rula Khalafawi, told The Media Line.
Khalafawi said she was worried about a developing humanitarian crisis if the border stayed closed for the next two weeks, or even less. Those who are forced to stay at the terminal for reason of lack of funds, are facing tough conditions: water and food are scarce, and the temperatures are high – over 40 degrees centigrade (100° Fahrenheit).
The Erez crossing into Israel, located at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, was sealed by the Israelis after Hamas took control out of concern that a wave of Palestinians would escape Gaza into Israel on their way to the West Bank. Two more border crossings under Israeli control, used mainly for transfer of commodities, have been closed for most of the last 14 days. This situation has left the Gaza Strip virtually locked from all sides and aid agencies are warning of imminent food shortages.
The Rafah border crossing was controlled by Israel since 1967 until Israel transferred responsibility for the border to the Palestinian Authority (P.A.) in November 2005 following the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The crossing has since been managed by Palestinian forces and Egyptian security officers, under the supervision of a European force.