Workers with the Egyptian company Hala Consulting and Tourism wait with luggage on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on March 23. Leaving Gaza has always been complicated, but as the war between Israel and Hamas continues, paying companies like Hala thousands in 'travel co-ordination fees' is often the only way out. Early last fall, Amin was packing for his move to Ottawa to start studying business during what would be his first term in university.
Since Hamas took over in Gaza, Egyptian journalist Mohannad Sabry says people in the strip have not been guaranteed the basic human right to free movement. Ahmed Benchemsi, a spokesperson for Human Rights Watch, said Gazans have two choices to leave from Rafah: register for an exit permit and hope for approval from the Egyptian government, or pay what's known as a travel co-ordination fee to a private company.
According to Alsafi, Al Organi has close links with Egypt's military and with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. She says Hala even uses its connections to Egypt as a marketing tool. In January, to get Amin out of Gaza, his brother in Ottawa applied for a temporary resident visa as part of the government's special measures for extended family. He had previously tried to use Amin's student visa, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said they were only evacuating Canadians and their immediate families.
Since October, people inquiring about travel co-ordination fees have reported that the price has drastically increased, with Hala charging $5,000 US .asked Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry whether the government condoned Hala charging so much for Palestinians to leave Gaza.