Occupation seizes property and gold from Palestinians returning to Gaza Strip via Rafah crossing

Complaints have escalated from Palestinian citizens returning to the Gaza Strip via the Rafah land crossing, due to their personal belongings being directly confiscated by Israeli occupation authorities. Returnees confirmed that the humiliating inspection procedures and strict restrictions imposed by occupation forces at the crossing have turned into a means of seizing valuable possessions, including modern mobile phones, gold jewelry, and personal luggage.

Field sources reported that testimonies from returnees revealed a systematic pattern of property seizure. One traveler recounted details of losing three suitcases and an iPhone, in addition to all the gold jewelry for his daughter's wedding. The traveler explained that the confiscations included five bracelets, a gold chain, and rings, causing significant material and psychological losses for his family upon their arrival in the Strip.

For their part, returning female travelers conveyed the extent of suffering women specifically faced during inspection operations, as their personal phones and jewelry in their possession were confiscated. One woman indicated that occupation soldiers confiscated the gold of more than ten women who were with her on the same trip, emphasizing that these possessions were private property they had traveled with previously and returned with, without any legal justification for their confiscation.

In a related context, other testimonies stressed that Israeli procedures were excessively strict and spared no travelers, including the elderly and children. The wife of one returnee mentioned that the occupation did not leave any mobile phone without confiscating it, and also seized a gold chain and rings from her daughter-in-law, despite their assertion that these items were personal and not for trade.

A child among the returnees expressed the state of confusion and shock that prevailed among female travelers when occupation soldiers suddenly informed them that gold was prohibited from entering. The child criticized the absence of prior announcement of such arbitrary decisions, noting that if they had known about these restrictions, they would have disposed of their belongings outside the Strip instead of having them stolen and confiscated at the crossing.

These violations come at a time when the occupation continues to shirk its obligations under the ceasefire understandings signed on October 10, 2025. It was supposed that this phase would see the full and smooth reopening of the Rafah crossing for the movement of individuals and goods without obstacles, but the reality on the ground shows the continued policy of tightening and strangling the residents of the Strip.

According to official data issued by the Palestinian Crossings Authority, travel movement, which resumed on February 2, 2026, recorded the departure of 3516 people until mid-June last year. In contrast, the number of citizens who were able to return to their homes in Gaza during the same period reached 2701 citizens, all of whom face the risk of losing their property due to current Israeli procedures.

They told us that gold is prohibited... We should have been informed of this decision in advance, and if we had known, we would have disposed of it there and not brought it back so that it would not be confiscated.