Women recount alleged interrogation and coercion after crossing; Israeli military denies any misconduct as thousands await their turn to return.
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The first group of Palestinians allowed to return to Gaza through the recently reopened Rafah crossing have reported being detained, handcuffed, and subjected to hours of interrogation and threats by Israeli troops, turning what many hoped would be a relief into a traumatic ordeal.
Three women among the 12 returnees—most of whom were women, children, or elderly—described being taken to an Israeli screening station after crossing the border on Monday. There, they say, they were blindfolded, bound, and questioned for several hours about Hamas and events in Gaza, with soldiers pressuring them to become informants.
“They threatened that they will detain me and I won’t return to my children,” said Rotana Al-Regeb, who was returning with her mother after receiving medical treatment abroad. She described being led into what she called a “humiliation room,” where her mother was found kneeling on the floor, handcuffed and blindfolded.
Another returnee, 57-year-old Sabah Al-Qara, gave a similar account, stating, “The Israelis humiliated us. We were outside Gaza and knew nothing.”
The Israeli military, when asked about the allegations, responded: “No incidents of inappropriate conduct, mistreatment, apprehensions, or confiscation of property by the Israeli security establishment are known.” It added that its screening process includes identity verification and luggage checks.
The journey itself was arduous. Dozens had waited since morning, but only 12 were permitted to cross by evening. Their luggage—packed with gifts and essentials—was heavily inspected, with most items confiscated. Returnees were only allowed to bring in one mobile phone and a limited amount of cash, under rules published in advance.
The Rafah crossing, now operated by a European Union mission and Palestinian officials, reopened after being closed for most of the war and under Israeli control since May 2024. Israel has said it will allow only about 50 Palestinians to return per day, a fraction of the more than 110,000 who left Gaza since the war began.
Hamas condemned the alleged mistreatment as “fascist behavior,” urging mediators to ensure safe passage. Rights groups warn that such incidents could deter others from attempting to return, undermining confidence in a process that tens of thousands are waiting to navigate.
