More than 115,000 Palestinians from Gaza have moved to Egypt since October 2023

Since the start of the Iron Swords war, more than 115,000 Gaza residents have crossed the border into Egypt, The Washington Post reported, citing the Palestinian embassy in Cairo.

And while some came to Egypt as those wounded in the war zone to receive medical care, many others came as tourists. The arrival of such tourists is facilitated by an Egyptian company called Hala Consulting and Tourism, which the publication describes as a firm with ties to Egyptian security services, which receive hefty fees for helping Palestinians leave the Gaza Strip.

Most of these “tourists”, after the expiration of the 45-day tourist visa, turn into illegal immigrants who are not entitled to services in the field of education and health care. The Palestinian refugee aid agency UNRWA cannot help them because Egypt does not recognize its mandate over Palestinians in Egyptian territory.