Movement in and out of Gaza: update covering February 2023

22 Mar 2023

Highlights

Fewer people and goods crossed through the Israeli and Egyptian borders.
While the numbers were still higher compared with previous years, movement in and out of Gaza remained highly restricted
The Israeli authorities approved 85 per cent of exit permit applications submitted for referral patients, the highest rate since May 2014.

Background: Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have undermined the living conditions of the approximately two million Palestinian residents. Many of the current restrictions, originally imposed by the Israeli authorities in the early 1990s, were intensified after June 2007, following the Hamas takeover of Gaza when the Israeli authorities imposed a blockade. While recently there has been some easing in importation restrictions, they continue to reduce access to livelihoods, essential services and housing, disrupt family life, and undermine people’s hopes for a secure and prosperous future. The situation has been compounded by the restrictions imposed by the Egyptian authorities at Rafah crossing.

Palestinians at a market in Ash Shati Refugee Camp, March 2023. Two in every three families in Gaza cannot afford enough food that meets international standards. Photo by OCHA

Movement of people to Israel and the West Bank

February recorded 45,173 exits of people from Gaza (in most cases, travellers exited multiple times). This is 15 per cent lower than the number of exits in January, and 28 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022. However, it is 91 per cent lower than the monthly average in 2000, before the imposition of category-based access restrictions by the Israeli authorities.
Up to 89 per cent of the exits were by Palestinians allowed out for work-related purposes, most of whom are employed as day labourers in Israel. The number of Israeli-issued exit permits for the above mentioned categories increased from 18,900 in January to 20,787 in February.
Six per cent of the exits were by patients referred for medical treatment in the West Bank or Israel and their companions. A total of 1,495 exit-permit applications were submitted to the Israeli authorities for medical appointments scheduled for February. Of them, 15 per cent were not approved on time, down from 16 per cent in January. This is the highest approval rate since May 2014. However, given the relatively-low number of applications submitted for February, the absolute number of approved applications is lower than in January.

Background: Palestinians are banned from leaving Gaza via Israel, including for passage to the West Bank, unless they obtain an Israeli-issued exit permit. Only those belonging to certain categories, primarily traders (including de facto daily labourers), patients and their accompaniers, and aid workers, can apply for such permits. Other people are not eligible for a permit. even if they do not pose a security risk, according to the Israeli authorities. In most cases, the Israeli authorities do not provide specific reasons for the rejection of an application. If an application is approved, the permit holder may travel through the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, which operates during the daytime, from Sunday to Thursday, and on Fridays for urgent cases and foreign nationals only.

Monthly average of exits to/via Israel (people)

Movement of people to Egypt

In February, the Egyptian authorities allowed 12,892 exits (some travellers may have exited multiple times). This is 9 per cent lower than the number of exits allowed in January 2023, and 7 per cent more than the monthly average in 2022.
Some 360 people were denied entry to Egypt, compared with 535 denials in January 2023. The grounds for denial are typically not provided, but according to the local Palestinian authorities, Egyptian counterparts have often cited security concerns or failure to meet special requirements that apply to men aged 18-40.

Background: Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza via Egypt must register with the local Palestinian authorities two to four weeks in advance. People may also apply directly to the Egyptian authorities, using the services of a private company. The procedures and decisions by both authorities lack transparency. Those that are approved exit through the Rafah Crossing, controlled by the Egyptian authorities, which operates from Sundays to Thursdays. The journey through the Sinai desert is often lengthy and includes multiple stops for checks by Egyptian security forces.

Monthly average of exits to Egypt (people)

Incoming goods

General goods (excluding fuel and gas)

In February, 9,187 truckloads entered through the Israeli and Egyptian borders. This is 15 per cent lower than the volume in January 2023 but still 4 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022. However, this is 18 per cent lower than the monthly average on the eve of the blockade in 2007, although Gaza’s population has grown by more than 55 per cent since then.
Of the goods that entered, 48 per cent were construction materials and 21 per cent were food supplies. About 1 per cent carried humanitarian aid facilitated by international organizations, including food and medical supplies.
Some 64 per cent of the entering goods, went in via Israel. This volume is 16 per cent lower than in January 2023, and almost 5 per cent lower than the monthly average in 2022. Over 34 per cent of it was construction materials (mainly aggregates, cement, and steel bars). This is 6 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022.
The remaining 36 per cent of the entering goods, went in via Egyptian border, which opened for imports on 12 days. This is 13 per cent below the volume in January 2023 but still about 23 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022.
Of the goods that entered via Egypt, more than 71 per cent were construction materials. Most of the remaining goods were food items.

Background: Since the imposition of the blockade in 2007, the Israeli authorities have restricted the entry into Gaza of goods they consider having a dual (civilian and military) use, such as building materials, certain medical equipment, and some agricultural items. Some of these goods may be allowed entry, following a lengthy application and review process. It is worth noting that, recently, a limited number of these items have been allowed to enter Gaza (e.g.: cement and steel bars). The entry of all goods from or via Israel (including non-restricted goods) is only possible via the Kerem Shalom crossing, following prior coordination with Israeli authorities. Since 2018, goods have also entered Gaza regularly from Egypt, via the Rafah crossing, controlled by the Egyptian authorities, and then through the adjacent Salah Ad Din Gate, controlled by the local authorities.

Monthly average of incoming goods to Gaza (truckloads)

Fuel and gas

The volume of petrol and diesel entering Gaza from Israel and Egypt in February decreased by 14 per cent compared with January 2023. It was also 7 per cent lower than the monthly average in 2022. No restrictions are imposed on the import of fuel of any type into Gaza, but funding and storage capacity are limited.
The volume of industrial diesel entering for the Gaza Power Plant decreased by 15 per cent compared with January 2023. It was 2 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022.
Cooking gas imports decreased by 8 per cent compared with January 2023. Their volume was 6 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022.

Outgoing goods

In February, 855 truckloads exited Gaza through the Israeli and Egyptian borders. This was 21 per cent lower than in January 2023, but still 37 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022. The decline is attributable to the end of the export season for some of the authorized items.
713 truckloads of authorized goods exited through the Israeli border. This was 8 per cent below the volume of exits in January 2023, and 25 per cent below the monthly average on the eve of the blockade in 2007.
About 74 per cent of these goods went to the West Bank, 25 per cent were exported to Israel, and less than 1 per cent were shipped abroad. Vegetables accounted for 59 per cent of the exiting goods, strawberries for 26 per cent, textile for 5 per cent, iron scrap for 4 per cent and the remainder included furniture, aluminium scrap, and fish.
Another 142 truckloads were exported to Egypt, carrying scrap iron and aluminium as well as used batteries. This is 23 per cent lower than in January. In 2022, the Egyptian authorities allowed only four types of commodities in from Gaza: used batteries and scrap iron, aluminium, and copper.

Background: Most products traded outside of Gaza are transported to markets via the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, where various restrictions apply. The exit of goods to the West Bank and Israel, the main markets, was totally banned between 2007 and 2014, then gradually reinstated. Since August 2021, certain goods have been exported to Egypt, via the Salah Ad Din gate and Rafah crossing.

Monthly average of outgoing goods from Gaza (truckloads)