Movement in and out of Gaza: update covering January 2023

27 Feb 2023

Highlights

In January 2023, the Israeli authorities increased the number of exit permits for Gaza residents and allowed more exists compared with any time since the early 2000s. More people also crossed into Egypt.
More goods entered and exited through the Israeli and Egyptian borders.
Despite these improvements, the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza remained highly restricted.

Background: Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have undermined the living conditions of over 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.

Palestinian farmers harvesting strawberries in Beit Lahia, the Gaza Strip, ahead of their export, 23 February 2023. Photo by OCHA

Movement of people to Israel and the West Bank

In January 2023, the Israeli authorities allowed 53,118 exits of people from Gaza (in most cases, travellers exited multiple times). This is the highest number on record since the early 2000s (OCHA’s records go back to 2004). This is 50 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022 but only 11 per cent the monthly average in 2000, before the imposition of category-based access restrictions by the Israeli authorities.
About 88 per cent of the exits were by Palestinians allowed out under the ‘traders’ and ‘economic needs’ permit category, most of whom are employed as day labourers in Israel. The number of Israeli-issued exit permits increased to 18,900 compared with 17,234 in December.
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 1,750 exit-permit applications were submitted to the Israeli authorities for medical appointments scheduled for January. Of them, 16 per cent were not approved on time, down from 21 per cent in December.

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 cross 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 January, the Egyptian authorities allowed 14,098 exits (some travellers may have exited multiple times). This is 6 per cent higher than the number of exits allowed in December 2022, and 17 per cent more than the monthly average in 2022.
Some 535 people were denied entry to Egypt, compared with 382 denials in December 2022.

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)

January recorded the highest volume of incoming goods since January 2019, for a total of 10,799 truckloads. This is 6 per cent higher than in December 2022 and 22 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022. However, this is 4 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, 44 per cent were construction materials and 24 per cent were food supplies. About 3 per cent carried humanitarian aid facilitated by international organizations, including food and medical supplies.
Some 64 per cent of the goods that entered, went in via Israeli-controlled crossing of Kerem Shalom. This volume is 6 per cent higher than in December 2022 and almost 13 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022.
Of the goods that entered via Israel, over 29 per cent were construction materials (mainly aggregates, cement, and steel bars). This is 8 per cent higher than the monthly average recorded in 2022.
The remaining 36 per cent of the incoming goods, went in via the Egyptian-controlled Rafah Crossing, which opened for imports on 14 days. This is 5 per cent higher the volume in December 2022 and about 43 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022.
Of the goods that entered via Egypt, more than 72 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 January increased by 22 per cent compared with December 2022. It was 9 per cent higher 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 increased by 18 per cent compared with December 2022. It was 20 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022.
Cooking gas imports increased by 16 per cent compared with December 2022. Their volume were 16 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2022. This increase is attributable to the rising demand during the winter.

Outgoing goods

January recorded the highest volume of outgoing goods since 2007, for a total of 960 truckloads. This was 32 per cent more than in December and 54 per cent more than the monthly average in 2022.
Overall, the Israeli authorities allowed the exit of 776 truckloads of authorized goods, 34 per cent more than in December. Still, this was 19 per cent below the monthly average on the eve of the blockade in 2007.
About 78 per cent of these goods went to the West Bank, 22 per cent were exported to Israel, and less than 1 per cent were shipped abroad. Vegetables accounted for 61 per cent of the exiting goods, strawberries for 27 per cent, textile for 5 per cent, and the remainder included furniture, aluminium scrap, and fish.
Another 184 truckloads were exported to Egypt, carrying scrap iron and aluminium as well as used batteries. This is 24 per cent lower than in the previous month. In 2022, the Egyptian authorized only allowed four types of commodities to exit through their border: 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 physical and administrative 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 Rafah crossing.

Monthly average of outgoing goods from Gaza (truckloads)