Egyptian Company Accused of Gouging Gazans to Cross Rafah Border

Thousands of Gazans have attempted to flee to Egypt through the Rafah crossing since the start of the war on October 7. But few can afford the inflated fees charged by “brokers” accused of profiting off their misery.

For Palestinians without another citizenship, their only option out is through an Egyptian travel company called Hala. 

The Guardian and other international media outlets have reported that Gazans have been charged “exit fees” of between $5,000 and $10,000 per person. 

 The fees are reportedly settled in cash, often by relatives living abroad. Many Gazans have turned to online crowdfunding initiatives to gather the required finances.  

In a Sky News interview, Egypt’s foreign minister Sameh Shoukry said the government would “take action vis-à-vis anyone who has been implicated in such activities.”

Human rights experts are skeptical. 

“There can’t be such economic activity, especially when it is a monopoly, without a green light from the military and without actual connections to the military,” Amr Magdi, at Human Rights Watch, told Sky News.