Gaza Herald – The Palestinian Center for Prisoner Studies has warned that Israeli forces are turning the Rafah border crossing into a site of detention and intimidation, arresting Palestinians returning to Gaza and raising serious concerns over their right to return home safely.
In a statement issued Wednesday, November 4, the center condemned the repeated detention of Palestinians arriving through the crossing, warning that the arrests could discourage thousands of Palestinians abroad from returning to the Gaza Strip out of fear of imprisonment.
The organization said the detentions, combined with prolonged interrogations, intrusive searches, and the confiscation of personal belongings, threaten Palestinians’ freedom of movement and undermine their right to return to their homeland.
Palestinians Arrested While Returning Home to Gaza
The center documented the arrest of Mohammad Hassan Salim Labad by Israeli occupation forces as he returned to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
His detention followed the arrests of three other Palestinians identified as Shukri Nihad Kamal Ghazal, Mohammad Raed Munir al-Najjar, and Mohammad Kamal Kamal Aqila.
The organization also cited the earlier detention of Ahmad Kamal al-Shaer.
Among the cases highlighted was that of 60-year-old Amal Ghazi al-Rifai and her 33-year-old daughter, Yasmine Refaat al-Rifai, who were detained after returning from medical treatment in Egypt.
According to the center, Israeli authorities extended their detention until December 2026 and prevented them from meeting with their lawyers.
The organization said it had previously documented the detention of seven Palestinians through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings, warning that the repeated arrests have created an atmosphere of fear among Palestinians seeking to return home.
For Palestinians who have traveled abroad for medical treatment or other essential reasons, the threat of detention adds another obstacle to returning to their families and communities in Gaza.
Searches, Interrogations, and Confiscation of Personal Belongings
The center also raised concerns over the treatment of Palestinians passing through Israeli-controlled security procedures at border crossings.
It cited complaints involving intrusive searches, prolonged questioning, and the confiscation of money, mobile phones, identification documents, and medical supplies.
The organization warned that such practices violate travelers’ dignity and raise serious questions about the treatment of civilians attempting to return to their homes.
It called for independent investigations into the reported abuses and accountability for any violations committed during security procedures.
The center stressed that security concerns cannot justify arbitrary detention or the denial of basic legal protections.
Palestinian Center Questions European Union Monitoring Role
The Palestinian Center for Prisoner Studies also questioned the role of the European Union monitoring mission stationed at the Rafah crossing.
Although the mission does not possess executive authority to prevent arrests, the center argued that its presence carries a professional and ethical responsibility to document violations and report them to the relevant authorities.
The organization called on the European Union to clarify what safeguards are in place to protect Palestinians returning through Rafah.
It also urged the establishment of accessible complaint mechanisms for travelers subjected to detention, harassment, or other abuses.
The center emphasized that international monitoring should contribute to the protection of civilians and help ensure that crossing procedures respect fundamental rights.
Right to Return Must Not Become a Risk of Imprisonment
The organization reaffirmed that Palestinians have the right to return to their homes and move freely without facing arbitrary arrest or intimidation.
It stressed that any detention must have a clear legal basis and that detainees must be able to communicate with their families, consult lawyers, and challenge the legality of their imprisonment.
The center also called for protection against torture, degrading treatment, and other violations of detainees’ rights.
It warned that repeated arrests at border crossings could effectively discourage Palestinians from returning to Gaza, particularly those who have left the territory to receive medical care.
The organization said that the fear of detention should never become a barrier preventing Palestinians from returning to their homeland.
More Than 9,200 Palestinians Held in Israeli Prisons
The center placed the latest arrests within the broader context of deteriorating conditions for Palestinian prisoners since October 2023.
According to figures it cited for October 2026, approximately 9,265 Palestinians were being held in Israeli prisons and detention facilities.
The total included 3,101 administrative detainees held without charge or trial and 1,419 people classified by Israeli authorities as unlawful combatants.
The center noted that the figures exclude many Palestinians held in Israeli military detention camps.
It called for the immediate release of Palestinians detained without a lawful basis and urged international organizations to monitor detention conditions, investigate allegations of abuse, and ensure that prisoners receive the legal protections to which they are entitled.
The center warned that unless the arrests and reported abuses at Rafah are addressed, Palestinians returning to Gaza will continue to face the risk of detention at the very crossing that should allow them to reunite with their families.
For Palestinians displaced by Israel’s war on Gaza, the right to return home must not come at the cost of their freedom.
