Gaza Herald – On Monday evening, the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Yunis received the 11th group of citizens returning through the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza.
This batch joined a limited number of returnees from the previous ten groups, all facing heavy Israeli-imposed restrictions and stringent security procedures. Observers report repeated delays in security checks and obstacles to movement, turning the journey into a prolonged and stressful ordeal.
Infrastructure damage and road closures around the crossing have compounded the hardships, forcing returnees to wait for hours under harsh conditions. Earlier groups also reported incidents of on-site harassment, intimidation, and temporary detentions.
Between 2 and 15 February, a total of 455 Palestinians managed to travel via Rafah, with 356 returning to Gaza, while 26 were denied passage or sent back, according to Gaza’s government media office.
The ongoing Israeli restrictions underscore the continued difficulties for Gazans attempting to travel, even under partial operational openings of Rafah, highlighting the severe impact of the blockade on civilian movement.
