Madison-Rafah Journal

Palestinians flood to Rafah crossing in a bid to escape the
hell that is life in the Gaza Strip, writes Erica Silverman
Al-Ahram Weekly, 24 - 30 August 2006

Scores of buses overflowing with passengers, so tightly packed that bodies are pressed against glass windows, approached the gates of Rafah Terminal along the Gaza-Egypt border Saturday in a desperate bid to exit the Gaza Strip. Luggage and people piled high on top and on trailers dragging behind, some precariously balancing themselves even on metal hitches in between.

Mohamed, 17, clung to the side of one bus by his arms, trying to make his way into Egypt for medical care. One mother grasped the side of a trailer with one arm and her crying little girl with the other as suitcases were rapidly hurled on top of them.

Buses pushed on — some carrying as many as 200 people, tires flattened from the weight — towards lines of preventative security forces trying to control the chaos. Over 7,000 passengers swarmed the terminal frantically trying to escape, but only 2,396 passengers departed and 341 returned, according to EU monitors stationed there. Students, medical patients, and foreign visa holders were permitted to leave. An estimated 30,000 are still waiting to depart, and as of Tuesday the border remained sealed. [More]