• Text size  | | |
• Email this document
• Printable version

Palestinians: Information on the right of return to Gaza through Egypt of Palestinians living abroad

According to a representative of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA) in New York, in order to be allowed to travel to Gaza from Egypt, Palestinians must have two documents: one is a valid Egyptian Travel Document; the second is an Israeli residence permit which has to be renewed in Gaza every three years at the Civil Administration of Gaza (supervised by the Ministry of the Interior of Israel) (25 Feb. 1992).

 A source at the Palestine Human Rights Information Centre in Jerusalem stated that their organization is currently completing field research on Palestinian returnees to Gaza since the Gulf War (25 Feb. 1992). Their preliminary conclusion is that in order to be allowed to return to Gaza, Palestinians need an Egyptian Travel Document and an Israeli residence permit (Ibid.). In the past, Egypt provided Palestinians of Gaza with a special Travel Document (Ibid.). This source in Jerusalem further reports that since the Gulf War, the Egyptian authorities have been holding at the airport Palestinians who cannot provide the two documents mentioned above (Ibid.). This source indicated that there are cases of Palestinians receiving a renewable visitor permit that can vary in the length of its validity (Ibid.). The cost of every renewal is approximately $100.00 U.S. (300 Shekels) (Ibid.). This visitor permit does not give the holder any residence rights or any rights in general (Ibid.). At the end of the summer of 1991, the Israeli authorities allegedly eased return procedures for Palestinians who were able to invest a large amount of money in the Occupied Territories (Ibid.).

According to a representative of the Embassy of Egypt in Washington, Palestinians who desire to return to Gaza must request a transit visa to go from the Cairo airport to the border and to the Gaza Strip (25 Feb. 1992). Without this transit visa it is illegal to travel inside Egypt, and in fact, the Egyptians will deny entry to Egypt to any Palestinians without legal documentation (Ibid.). At the Cairo airport the Egyptian authorities will ask to see an Israeli official permit (visa) to allow Palestinians to travel to Gaza (Ibid.). If the Palestinian does not have the Israeli permission, then the Egyptian authorities will require that the person leave Egypt as the Egyptian Travel Document does not provide the right to residence in Egypt (Ibid.).

According to above-mentioned representative at UNRWA, Palestinians who want to travel to Gaza through Egypt must first obtain a visa at the nearest Embassy of Egypt (25 Feb. 1992). The same source added that this visa is not easily acquired by Palestinians since the Gulf War (Ibid.). The Egyptian Travel Document alone is not sufficient for Palestinians to travel to Egypt (Ibid.). This Egyptian Travel Document does not provide any rights in Egypt, in terms of residency, work, or education (Ibid.).

According to a representative at the Consulate of Israel in New York, Palestinians who want to return to the Gaza Strip must have a valid Travel Document from any country dealing with the Palestinians and an identity card provided by the Israeli authorities (25 Feb. 1992). If the Palestinians do not have one of these documents they can ask their family to apply on their behalf to the Civil Administration of Gaza for a visitor permit (Ibid.). If the request is approved a copy of the permit will be sent to the Embassy of Israel in Cairo, Egypt, where it will be issued to the requesters (Ibid.). The source at the Consulate added that the approval of such a visitor permit depends on whether the person left Gaza before or after 1967, whether the person is a man or a woman, and whether the person has acquired the nationality of another country (Ibid.). Even if the Palestinian has the required documents and permanent residence status, they may not be allowed to return depending upon the merits of the case, which will be decided by the Israeli Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with the Defence Ministry (Ibid.). The representative was not able to give further details about the decision making involved in this process, but underlined the fact that each case is treated on individual merits and as such all the above information is general and is subject to change (Ibid.).

Bibliography

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, New York. 25 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.

Palestine Human Rights Information Centre, Jerusalem. 25 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.

Embassy of Egypt, Washington. 25 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.

Consulate of Israel, New York. 25 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.

Attachments

Brand, Laurie. 1988. Palestinians in the Arab World. New York: Columbia University Press.

Human Rights Watch. 1992. "World Report 1992." New York.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 20 February 1990. Response to Information Request EGY4436.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 20 July 1989. Response to Information Request ISR1572.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 22 August 1989. Response to Information Request ISR1848.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 6 July 1989. Response to Information Request JOR1394.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 17 July 1989. Response to Information Request JOR1528.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 20 December 1990. Response to Information Request ISR7525.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. 20 February 1990. Response to Information Request ISR3062.

Immigration Refugee Board Documentation Centre, (IRBDC), Ottawa. October 1991. "The Occupied Territories: Exit and Return." (Question and Answer Series).

The Middle East. August 1991. "Hopeless in Gaza."

Middle East Watch. 27 January 1991. "Under the Toughest Curfew Since 1973, West Bank and Gaza Palestinians Face Growing Hardship."

Topics: Palestinian, Visas, Residence permits, Refugee travel documents, Right to return,