Palestinian women face grueling ordeal at Rafah crossing as Israel tightens its grip
Rotana al-Raqab had been waiting for months to reunite with her five children and husband after she was forced to flee Gaza due to a major heart operation. Her mother, Huda Abu Abed, 56, also left behind with Rotana to seek urgent medical treatment.
Their names were included on the first list of Palestinians allowed to return to Gaza through the Rafah crossing in Egypt, which had been largely closed since Israeli forces took control of it in May last year. However, what they initially believed would be a path back home turned into a nightmare of hours of waiting, body searches, interrogations, and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces.
Upon arrival, Rotana and Huda were subjected to full-body searches carried out by a woman accompanied by two men who identified themselves as part of "counterterrorism forces." They were told they were fighting terrorism and lived in a "humanitarian city," welcoming anyone who wanted to join them. Rotana described how one of the interrogators attempted to provoke her, calling her names.
The women were then taken for interrogation by Israeli military officers, which lasted for hours. Huda was separated from her daughter during this time, describing it as frightening. She was released after a couple of hours but only saw Rotana and the other women again when she was finally freed.
After weeks of waiting, Rotana and Huda were allowed to continue their journey. However, Israeli forces had confiscated nearly all of what they had packed for their children, including food, toys, and headphones. The two women found themselves struggling to cope with the harsh realities of life under Israeli occupation.
Despite the trauma they endured, Rotana's primary concern was reuniting with her children. She described how she returned home before completing her treatment because her children couldn't bear to be apart from her any longer. Her mother, too, shared a similar sentiment, saying "In the end, we are returning to our country no matter what, so why were we treated this way?"
The ordeal of Rotana and Huda is just one in many testimonies from Palestinians who have attempted to return to Gaza through the Rafah crossing since its partial reopening. The crossing has become a tool of control and domination rather than a humanitarian passage, according to the International Commission to Support Palestinian People's Rights (ICSPR).
The ICSPR strongly condemned the strict Israeli restrictions on the operation of the crossing, which include requiring pre-approved security clearances, imposing strict passenger quotas, and enforcing complex procedures for travel. The organisation also condemned the treatment of Palestinians at the crossing, including beatings, humiliating body searches, prolonged handcuffing, confiscation of personal belongings, and threats of arrest.
Rotana's story highlights the human cost of Israel's occupation and the need for international pressure to be brought on the regime to end its abuse.
Rotana al-Raqab had been waiting for months to reunite with her five children and husband after she was forced to flee Gaza due to a major heart operation. Her mother, Huda Abu Abed, 56, also left behind with Rotana to seek urgent medical treatment.
Their names were included on the first list of Palestinians allowed to return to Gaza through the Rafah crossing in Egypt, which had been largely closed since Israeli forces took control of it in May last year. However, what they initially believed would be a path back home turned into a nightmare of hours of waiting, body searches, interrogations, and humiliation at the hands of Israeli forces.
Upon arrival, Rotana and Huda were subjected to full-body searches carried out by a woman accompanied by two men who identified themselves as part of "counterterrorism forces." They were told they were fighting terrorism and lived in a "humanitarian city," welcoming anyone who wanted to join them. Rotana described how one of the interrogators attempted to provoke her, calling her names.
The women were then taken for interrogation by Israeli military officers, which lasted for hours. Huda was separated from her daughter during this time, describing it as frightening. She was released after a couple of hours but only saw Rotana and the other women again when she was finally freed.
After weeks of waiting, Rotana and Huda were allowed to continue their journey. However, Israeli forces had confiscated nearly all of what they had packed for their children, including food, toys, and headphones. The two women found themselves struggling to cope with the harsh realities of life under Israeli occupation.
Despite the trauma they endured, Rotana's primary concern was reuniting with her children. She described how she returned home before completing her treatment because her children couldn't bear to be apart from her any longer. Her mother, too, shared a similar sentiment, saying "In the end, we are returning to our country no matter what, so why were we treated this way?"
The ordeal of Rotana and Huda is just one in many testimonies from Palestinians who have attempted to return to Gaza through the Rafah crossing since its partial reopening. The crossing has become a tool of control and domination rather than a humanitarian passage, according to the International Commission to Support Palestinian People's Rights (ICSPR).
The ICSPR strongly condemned the strict Israeli restrictions on the operation of the crossing, which include requiring pre-approved security clearances, imposing strict passenger quotas, and enforcing complex procedures for travel. The organisation also condemned the treatment of Palestinians at the crossing, including beatings, humiliating body searches, prolonged handcuffing, confiscation of personal belongings, and threats of arrest.
Rotana's story highlights the human cost of Israel's occupation and the need for international pressure to be brought on the regime to end its abuse.
this is just heartbreaking. I mean, Rotana and her mom Huda have been through so much already with Rotana's heart op & now they're treated like prisoners at Rafah crossing? 
it's unacceptable. Israel's grip on Gaza is suffocating them & their stories are a stark reminder of the human cost of occupation 
. The fact that Israeli forces were more interested in "fighting terrorism" than helping these women is just appalling 
. We need to hold our leaders accountable & put pressure on Israel to end its abuse 
. It's not too much to ask for basic human rights, especially when it comes to family reunions 
i cant believe the ipo treatment rotana and her mum had to go thru after all that time waiting 
it's not just about them, its a huge issue for the whole community and needs to be addressed ASAP 
we need more awareness about israeli occupation and its effects on Palestinians 
. And the confiscation of their belongings? Are you kidding me?! That's just cruel 
. She returned home before finishing her treatment because she couldn't bear to be apart from them for one second 
. We need to be calling out Israel's human rights abuses and demanding that something be done about it 
. The international community needs to take a stand and put pressure on the regime to stop treating Palestinians like this 
. This is not just about Palestinian women, it's about human dignity and respect for all people 
The more I think about Rotana and Huda's experience at the Rafah crossing, the more I'm struck by the absurdity of it all... like we're still living in a world where people are treated like cargo instead of human beings. 
I mean, what kind of world do we live in where people are forced to choose between their own humanity and their right to return home? 
We can't keep turning a blind eye to these injustices and expecting them to magically disappear.
what's wrong with the Israeli government? can't they see they're causing harm? 
how many more people have to go through this before something changes? 
the ICSPR is right, the crossing should be a safe passage for Palestinians, not a tool of control 
we need 2 make some noise & demand change! 
especially after Rotana had been waiting for months to see her 5 kids again 
and then when Palestinians do try to exercise their right to return, they're met with beatings & humiliation 
we need more international pressure on Israel to end this occupation & let Palestinians live in peace 