As Gaza unravels, Palestinians flee

Thousands have already left the coastal strip because of its social and economic degradation.

from the June 15, 2007 edition

Page 4 of 4

Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | 4

An Egyptian official said that, technically speaking, Palestinians can come to Egypt by getting special stamps in their passport at the Egyptian Embassy. But in practice, passage is at the mercy of often-fickle guards.

"If the border guards don't want him to come into the country, then he can't come in, and that happens a lot," says the official, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. "The border at Rafah is very difficult.

"The guys on the border are very obstinate," he reiterates, "so if they don't like you, you can't come in."

For any person, and certainly for any Palestinian, leaving one's homeland is a difficult and loaded issue.

Many of the people interviewed for this article did not want their full names used out of fear of being viewed as deserters.

But Balousha says that his friends ask him why he hasn't gotten out already. Almost 30 and still single – most Palestinians his age are married with children – it's less complicated for you, they urge. But only slightly, he says.

"My friends say, 'If I were you, I would have gone by now.' But it's not so quick," he says. "Everyone wants to live in his home in peace. There are no words to describe the situation. It's a disaster.

"This is the lowest standard for a human being," he asserts. "You're in a middle of a war, and you cannot hope for anything except to survive."

1 | 2 | 3 | Page 4