‘They handcuffed and blindfolded us’ – Palestinian returnee to Gaza

Rotana Atiya Al-Reqeb has told RT about hours-long interrogations by Israeli forces at the Rafah crossing

Palestinians returning to Gaza via the Rafah border crossing have said they face major challenges and intimidation from occupying Israeli forces. Seized by Israeli troops in May 2024, the Rafah entry point – the war-ravaged enclave’s key gateway – had been largely shut for almost two years.

RT spoke to Rotana Atiya Al-Reqeb, a woman who had spent a year in Egypt, about her returning ordeal.

“Only after the Palestinian and European authorities stamped our passports did the Israelis take us to their area,” Al-Reqeb said, stressing that they were held by the occupation forces for three consecutive hours.

“They handcuffed us, blindfolded us, and began asking unacceptable questions, such as why we were returning to Gaza, a question they have no right to ask,” she added.

Al-Reqeb highlighted that Palestinians have the right to return to their homeland “freely without conditions or restrictions,” urging peace organizations and other bodies to help Gaza return to normal life and ensure that the crossings are reopened.

“Anyone who wants to come back should be able to do so, despite the attempts to repress us through measures and interrogations,” she concluded. “We were returning to our homeland.”

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The crossing reportedly allows only 150 people to leave Gaza and 50 to return each day, despite 20,000 people, including 4,000 children, needing medical evacuation for care that is not available on the territory of the enclave.

The Rafah reopening became a key requirement of US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the fighting between Israel and Hamas, which went into effect last October. However, Israel had refused to approve any crossings before the remains of the last hostage in Gaza were returned to West Jerusalem in late January.

The US-backed ceasefire agreement paused a conflict that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostage. West Jerusalem responded with a blockade and military operation against Gaza, which has killed nearly 72,000 Palestinians and left over 171,500 wounded, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

According to the United Nations, 81% of structures in Gaza have been damaged during the conflict. Some 1.3 million people were reportedly living in 970 displacement sites across the enclave.