'Israel's plan all along': Palestinians in Gaza face dilemma of staying or leaving as Rafah crossing set to open
Egypt has denied any agreement and demanded transit for residents of the Palestinian enclave in both directions.
L'Orient Today / By Ghadir Hamadi,
04 December 2025 10:28
A Palestinian woman gestures near debris and destroyed vehicles on Feb. 22, 2024, following an overnight Israeli air strike in Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, as battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continue. (Credit: Mohammed Abed/AFP)
Mixing diced tomatoes, coriander, crushed garlic and canned beans in one hand while taking L’Orient Today’s phone call with the other, Dania* tells the newspaper from Gaza that “leaving Gaza once the Rafah crossing opens might be the lesser of two evils.”As the buzz of drones fills the sky for her newlywed husband, Dania* says that leaving Gaza remains a taboo because this was “Israel's plan all along.” Yet, despite her reservations, she adds, “Although my husband and I don’t want to make a big fuss about it and let many people know that we are planning on leaving, when they open the border we will leave. If we have to pay, we will, but the logistics are not clear.” Read also: Surviving Sde Teiman, Israel's torture machine Israel said on Wednesday it would open the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt to allow residents to exit...
Mixing diced tomatoes, coriander, crushed garlic and canned beans in one hand while taking L’Orient Today’s phone call with the other, Dania* tells the newspaper from Gaza that “leaving Gaza once the Rafah crossing opens might be the lesser of two evils.”As the buzz of drones fills the sky for her newlywed husband, Dania* says that leaving Gaza remains a taboo because this was “Israel's plan all along.” Yet, despite her reservations, she adds, “Although my husband and I don’t want to make a big fuss about it and let many people know that we are planning on leaving, when they open the border we will leave. If we have to pay, we will, but the logistics are not clear.” Read also: Surviving Sde Teiman, Israel's torture machine Israel said on Wednesday it would open the Rafah crossing from Gaza to Egypt to allow...
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