The number of Palestinians stranded in North Sinai is beginning to grow once again, reports Serene Assir Once again the number of Palestinians stranded in North Sinai is growing. There are now an estimated 1,000-1,500 people stranded on the Egyptian side of the border as a result of the continued closure of the Rafah terminal. Rafah is the only passenger crossing to the outside world from Gaza that does not lead into Israel. Since a US- brokered agreement in November 2005, it has supposedly acted as a sovereign entity away from direct interference from Israel, guarded by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Egypt and monitored by EU officials. The Rafah border crossing was closed on 9 June following an agreement between Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. In the immediate wake of the closure, 6,000 Gaza residents were unable to return home from trips to Egypt and elsewhere, many of them for medical, religious or educational reasons. Stranded in Egypt for weeks they suffered physical and psychological pressure as well as economic and health-related hardships. According to the Gaza-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights 19 of the stranded had died by the beginning of September. The vast majority were eventually able to re-enter Gaza via an Israeli-Egyptian terminal at Al-Oja after a deal was struck by Israel and Fatah. Starting on 29 July the evacuation lasted several days. Though many returnees resented going home via an Israeli-controlled terminal only those with a known history of resistance and who feared interrogation or arrest stayed behind. "At least one arrest was confirmed at the time -- that of Ahmed Al-Essawi," Moushir Al-Masri, a member of the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Legislative Council, told Al-Ahram Weekly. "We had warned against the use of the terminal at Al-Oja because of the inherent danger using it posed to efforts to restore a sovereign entry and exit point for Palestinians." Today the number of those stranded since the original closure of Rafah has risen from the 150 who remained behind when Al-Oja was opened to between 1,000 and 1,500. "Many who had travelled abroad via Egypt were unable to return at short notice during the few days Al-Oja was in use," said one man who remains trapped in North Sinai. "The humanitarian crisis is back on a smaller scale, for now at least. We are hearing stories across the board of anxiety, insecurity caused by a shortage of funds, and suffering, especially amongst the sick and elderly. With the advent of Ramadan the psychological pressure on separated families will only grow." Those left behind are dismayed at the way the regional and international media, as well as local human rights organisations, have ignored their plight. "It is clear that the silence is intentional," veteran Palestinian activist Abdel-Qader Yassin told the Weekly. "In Egypt there is a very strong link between political and humanitarian situations. In this case the political takes precedence and that leads to silence." The portrayal of the ongoing closure of Rafah as linked to the Hamas takeover of Gaza has, says Al-Masri, served to shift responsibility, making the prolonged siege of Gaza somehow acceptable. "The fact of the matter is that the Palestinian people are yet again paying the price of occupation. They are forbidden to either leave or enter Gaza." There is no evidence that the Rafah terminal will be reopened anytime soon. The 2005 agreement under which the terminal opened in the first place was supposed to be reviewed after 12 months. Despite Egyptian pressure that the review take place nothing has been done, says military and strategic expert Major General Salaheddin Selim. And given Abbas's seeming aversion that the crossing reopen, it is unlikely that any progress will be made in the near future. "We are being pressured to give in to Israel and Abass's demands," says Al-Masri. "It is something we refuse to do." Tens of thousands of Palestinians protested against the ongoing closure on the Gaza side of the border on 1 September. The siege of Gaza has led to further deterioration in Palestinian living conditions. Following the closure, unemployment has risen from 70 to 75 per cent and access to healthcare services in Egypt is denied. Those in Egypt with a history of anti-Israeli activity remain key to the crisis. Their affiliations cut across the Palestinian political spectrum. "Even if Al-Oja reopens once the numbers begin to swell further -- and that we can expect -- we still won't be able to re-enter Gaza," said one former PLO operative speaking on condition of anonymity. "What does that tell you about Gaza? That we live in a prison, complete with prison guards."
