What would I need to do in order to visit the Gaza Strip?
The political situation in the Gaza Strip does not make it a very desired vacation spot, but lets assume one has a burning desire to go and spend some time as a visitor in Gaza.
What hurdles, visas, authorizations, etc would one need to legally visit Gaza?
There are some information in wikitravel and in wikipedia but I fear they are outdated.
visas us-citizens war-zones palestine
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
|
show 1 more comment
The political situation in the Gaza Strip does not make it a very desired vacation spot, but lets assume one has a burning desire to go and spend some time as a visitor in Gaza.
What hurdles, visas, authorizations, etc would one need to legally visit Gaza?
There are some information in wikitravel and in wikipedia but I fear they are outdated.
visas us-citizens war-zones palestine
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
1
@HeidelBerGensis I anonymized the question. If the nationality of the visitor makes a difference, please address that in your answer.
– Mindwin
May 19 '16 at 20:11
Possible duplicate of Once in Israel, are tourists allowed to exit to the areas outside of the Israeli responsibility (Palestinian areas)?
– David Richerby
May 19 '16 at 21:09
1
The suggested duplicate only addresses the case of the West Bank but not Gaza.
– mts
May 19 '16 at 21:17
@HeidelBerGensis added localization tag.
– Mindwin
May 20 '16 at 12:09
Depending on your nationality, your flight ticket might be confiscated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your country.
– Blaszard
May 29 '16 at 8:43
|
show 1 more comment
The political situation in the Gaza Strip does not make it a very desired vacation spot, but lets assume one has a burning desire to go and spend some time as a visitor in Gaza.
What hurdles, visas, authorizations, etc would one need to legally visit Gaza?
There are some information in wikitravel and in wikipedia but I fear they are outdated.
visas us-citizens war-zones palestine
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
The political situation in the Gaza Strip does not make it a very desired vacation spot, but lets assume one has a burning desire to go and spend some time as a visitor in Gaza.
What hurdles, visas, authorizations, etc would one need to legally visit Gaza?
There are some information in wikitravel and in wikipedia but I fear they are outdated.
visas us-citizens war-zones palestine
visas us-citizens war-zones palestine
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
edited May 20 '16 at 12:10
CMaster
10.7k44792
10.7k44792
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
asked May 19 '16 at 18:39
MindwinMindwin
368211
368211
1
@HeidelBerGensis I anonymized the question. If the nationality of the visitor makes a difference, please address that in your answer.
– Mindwin
May 19 '16 at 20:11
Possible duplicate of Once in Israel, are tourists allowed to exit to the areas outside of the Israeli responsibility (Palestinian areas)?
– David Richerby
May 19 '16 at 21:09
1
The suggested duplicate only addresses the case of the West Bank but not Gaza.
– mts
May 19 '16 at 21:17
@HeidelBerGensis added localization tag.
– Mindwin
May 20 '16 at 12:09
Depending on your nationality, your flight ticket might be confiscated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your country.
– Blaszard
May 29 '16 at 8:43
|
show 1 more comment
1
@HeidelBerGensis I anonymized the question. If the nationality of the visitor makes a difference, please address that in your answer.
– Mindwin
May 19 '16 at 20:11
Possible duplicate of Once in Israel, are tourists allowed to exit to the areas outside of the Israeli responsibility (Palestinian areas)?
– David Richerby
May 19 '16 at 21:09
1
The suggested duplicate only addresses the case of the West Bank but not Gaza.
– mts
May 19 '16 at 21:17
@HeidelBerGensis added localization tag.
– Mindwin
May 20 '16 at 12:09
Depending on your nationality, your flight ticket might be confiscated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your country.
– Blaszard
May 29 '16 at 8:43
1
1
@HeidelBerGensis I anonymized the question. If the nationality of the visitor makes a difference, please address that in your answer.
– Mindwin
May 19 '16 at 20:11
@HeidelBerGensis I anonymized the question. If the nationality of the visitor makes a difference, please address that in your answer.
– Mindwin
May 19 '16 at 20:11
Possible duplicate of Once in Israel, are tourists allowed to exit to the areas outside of the Israeli responsibility (Palestinian areas)?
– David Richerby
May 19 '16 at 21:09
Possible duplicate of Once in Israel, are tourists allowed to exit to the areas outside of the Israeli responsibility (Palestinian areas)?
– David Richerby
May 19 '16 at 21:09
1
1
The suggested duplicate only addresses the case of the West Bank but not Gaza.
– mts
May 19 '16 at 21:17
The suggested duplicate only addresses the case of the West Bank but not Gaza.
– mts
May 19 '16 at 21:17
@HeidelBerGensis added localization tag.
– Mindwin
May 20 '16 at 12:09
@HeidelBerGensis added localization tag.
– Mindwin
May 20 '16 at 12:09
Depending on your nationality, your flight ticket might be confiscated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your country.
– Blaszard
May 29 '16 at 8:43
Depending on your nationality, your flight ticket might be confiscated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your country.
– Blaszard
May 29 '16 at 8:43
|
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
TL;DR: It's complicated.
I've been to Gaza once a long time ago, in happier days when Yasser Arafat Int'l wasn't a heap of rubble. At the time arriving by plane was straightforward (buy ticket, fly to Gaza), but crossing by land was complicated even then and has become much worse since. This answer is a synthesis of what I understand from the friend who picked up me up at the time, who's been to Gaza multiple times since then, and two more up-to-date sources, in particular this and this.
First, some broad guidelines:
Think twice if you want to do this. As far as Western intelligence agencies are concerned, Gaza = Hamas = terrorists and voluntarily visiting there is only one step short of training with the Taliban or Islamic State on the suspiciousness scale. A Rafah border stamp will raise eyebrows when spotted anywhere in the world.
The border can shut completely with zero notice. If Hamas or one of its buddies chucks a rocket over the border, as they regularly do, nobody's going in or out for a while: maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe months. You've got to be flexible and prepared for failure.
So with the airport gone, there are two ways into Gaza by land:
- The Erez crossing, with Israel. Ever since Hamas took over, this has been basically completely locked down and is not a viable option unless you have some serious connections in Israel (or Gaza). Then again, even when "open" this is a famously painful crossing (3 hours plus is not uncommon), plus you'll also be an object of extreme suspicion when you fly out of Israel.
- The Rafah crossing, with Egypt. Smuggling tunnels aside, this is Gaza's only landline and the focus of the rest of this answer.
So here, finally, is what you need:
- A bona fide invitation from an organization in Gaza that can host you. (Tourism to Gaza is not a thing; for one thing, Gaza's sole decent hotel, the Windmill, was burned down in 2000.)
- Once you have the invitation, you need to apply to the nearest Egyptian embassy for a permission letter for Rafah. This may take several months to process.
- Once granted, you need to get your host to apply on your behalf for a Palestinian entry permit.
- Once this too has been granted, proceed to Rafah, about 6 hours' drive from Cairo.
- Exit Egypt at the Rafah border post. Expect this to take several hours.
- Enter Palestine. Your story and documentation will be double-checked.
- You're in!
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
add a comment |
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TL;DR: It's complicated.
I've been to Gaza once a long time ago, in happier days when Yasser Arafat Int'l wasn't a heap of rubble. At the time arriving by plane was straightforward (buy ticket, fly to Gaza), but crossing by land was complicated even then and has become much worse since. This answer is a synthesis of what I understand from the friend who picked up me up at the time, who's been to Gaza multiple times since then, and two more up-to-date sources, in particular this and this.
First, some broad guidelines:
Think twice if you want to do this. As far as Western intelligence agencies are concerned, Gaza = Hamas = terrorists and voluntarily visiting there is only one step short of training with the Taliban or Islamic State on the suspiciousness scale. A Rafah border stamp will raise eyebrows when spotted anywhere in the world.
The border can shut completely with zero notice. If Hamas or one of its buddies chucks a rocket over the border, as they regularly do, nobody's going in or out for a while: maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe months. You've got to be flexible and prepared for failure.
So with the airport gone, there are two ways into Gaza by land:
- The Erez crossing, with Israel. Ever since Hamas took over, this has been basically completely locked down and is not a viable option unless you have some serious connections in Israel (or Gaza). Then again, even when "open" this is a famously painful crossing (3 hours plus is not uncommon), plus you'll also be an object of extreme suspicion when you fly out of Israel.
- The Rafah crossing, with Egypt. Smuggling tunnels aside, this is Gaza's only landline and the focus of the rest of this answer.
So here, finally, is what you need:
- A bona fide invitation from an organization in Gaza that can host you. (Tourism to Gaza is not a thing; for one thing, Gaza's sole decent hotel, the Windmill, was burned down in 2000.)
- Once you have the invitation, you need to apply to the nearest Egyptian embassy for a permission letter for Rafah. This may take several months to process.
- Once granted, you need to get your host to apply on your behalf for a Palestinian entry permit.
- Once this too has been granted, proceed to Rafah, about 6 hours' drive from Cairo.
- Exit Egypt at the Rafah border post. Expect this to take several hours.
- Enter Palestine. Your story and documentation will be double-checked.
- You're in!
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
add a comment |
TL;DR: It's complicated.
I've been to Gaza once a long time ago, in happier days when Yasser Arafat Int'l wasn't a heap of rubble. At the time arriving by plane was straightforward (buy ticket, fly to Gaza), but crossing by land was complicated even then and has become much worse since. This answer is a synthesis of what I understand from the friend who picked up me up at the time, who's been to Gaza multiple times since then, and two more up-to-date sources, in particular this and this.
First, some broad guidelines:
Think twice if you want to do this. As far as Western intelligence agencies are concerned, Gaza = Hamas = terrorists and voluntarily visiting there is only one step short of training with the Taliban or Islamic State on the suspiciousness scale. A Rafah border stamp will raise eyebrows when spotted anywhere in the world.
The border can shut completely with zero notice. If Hamas or one of its buddies chucks a rocket over the border, as they regularly do, nobody's going in or out for a while: maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe months. You've got to be flexible and prepared for failure.
So with the airport gone, there are two ways into Gaza by land:
- The Erez crossing, with Israel. Ever since Hamas took over, this has been basically completely locked down and is not a viable option unless you have some serious connections in Israel (or Gaza). Then again, even when "open" this is a famously painful crossing (3 hours plus is not uncommon), plus you'll also be an object of extreme suspicion when you fly out of Israel.
- The Rafah crossing, with Egypt. Smuggling tunnels aside, this is Gaza's only landline and the focus of the rest of this answer.
So here, finally, is what you need:
- A bona fide invitation from an organization in Gaza that can host you. (Tourism to Gaza is not a thing; for one thing, Gaza's sole decent hotel, the Windmill, was burned down in 2000.)
- Once you have the invitation, you need to apply to the nearest Egyptian embassy for a permission letter for Rafah. This may take several months to process.
- Once granted, you need to get your host to apply on your behalf for a Palestinian entry permit.
- Once this too has been granted, proceed to Rafah, about 6 hours' drive from Cairo.
- Exit Egypt at the Rafah border post. Expect this to take several hours.
- Enter Palestine. Your story and documentation will be double-checked.
- You're in!
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
add a comment |
TL;DR: It's complicated.
I've been to Gaza once a long time ago, in happier days when Yasser Arafat Int'l wasn't a heap of rubble. At the time arriving by plane was straightforward (buy ticket, fly to Gaza), but crossing by land was complicated even then and has become much worse since. This answer is a synthesis of what I understand from the friend who picked up me up at the time, who's been to Gaza multiple times since then, and two more up-to-date sources, in particular this and this.
First, some broad guidelines:
Think twice if you want to do this. As far as Western intelligence agencies are concerned, Gaza = Hamas = terrorists and voluntarily visiting there is only one step short of training with the Taliban or Islamic State on the suspiciousness scale. A Rafah border stamp will raise eyebrows when spotted anywhere in the world.
The border can shut completely with zero notice. If Hamas or one of its buddies chucks a rocket over the border, as they regularly do, nobody's going in or out for a while: maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe months. You've got to be flexible and prepared for failure.
So with the airport gone, there are two ways into Gaza by land:
- The Erez crossing, with Israel. Ever since Hamas took over, this has been basically completely locked down and is not a viable option unless you have some serious connections in Israel (or Gaza). Then again, even when "open" this is a famously painful crossing (3 hours plus is not uncommon), plus you'll also be an object of extreme suspicion when you fly out of Israel.
- The Rafah crossing, with Egypt. Smuggling tunnels aside, this is Gaza's only landline and the focus of the rest of this answer.
So here, finally, is what you need:
- A bona fide invitation from an organization in Gaza that can host you. (Tourism to Gaza is not a thing; for one thing, Gaza's sole decent hotel, the Windmill, was burned down in 2000.)
- Once you have the invitation, you need to apply to the nearest Egyptian embassy for a permission letter for Rafah. This may take several months to process.
- Once granted, you need to get your host to apply on your behalf for a Palestinian entry permit.
- Once this too has been granted, proceed to Rafah, about 6 hours' drive from Cairo.
- Exit Egypt at the Rafah border post. Expect this to take several hours.
- Enter Palestine. Your story and documentation will be double-checked.
- You're in!
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
TL;DR: It's complicated.
I've been to Gaza once a long time ago, in happier days when Yasser Arafat Int'l wasn't a heap of rubble. At the time arriving by plane was straightforward (buy ticket, fly to Gaza), but crossing by land was complicated even then and has become much worse since. This answer is a synthesis of what I understand from the friend who picked up me up at the time, who's been to Gaza multiple times since then, and two more up-to-date sources, in particular this and this.
First, some broad guidelines:
Think twice if you want to do this. As far as Western intelligence agencies are concerned, Gaza = Hamas = terrorists and voluntarily visiting there is only one step short of training with the Taliban or Islamic State on the suspiciousness scale. A Rafah border stamp will raise eyebrows when spotted anywhere in the world.
The border can shut completely with zero notice. If Hamas or one of its buddies chucks a rocket over the border, as they regularly do, nobody's going in or out for a while: maybe days, maybe weeks, maybe months. You've got to be flexible and prepared for failure.
So with the airport gone, there are two ways into Gaza by land:
- The Erez crossing, with Israel. Ever since Hamas took over, this has been basically completely locked down and is not a viable option unless you have some serious connections in Israel (or Gaza). Then again, even when "open" this is a famously painful crossing (3 hours plus is not uncommon), plus you'll also be an object of extreme suspicion when you fly out of Israel.
- The Rafah crossing, with Egypt. Smuggling tunnels aside, this is Gaza's only landline and the focus of the rest of this answer.
So here, finally, is what you need:
- A bona fide invitation from an organization in Gaza that can host you. (Tourism to Gaza is not a thing; for one thing, Gaza's sole decent hotel, the Windmill, was burned down in 2000.)
- Once you have the invitation, you need to apply to the nearest Egyptian embassy for a permission letter for Rafah. This may take several months to process.
- Once granted, you need to get your host to apply on your behalf for a Palestinian entry permit.
- Once this too has been granted, proceed to Rafah, about 6 hours' drive from Cairo.
- Exit Egypt at the Rafah border post. Expect this to take several hours.
- Enter Palestine. Your story and documentation will be double-checked.
- You're in!
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
answered May 29 '16 at 6:14
jpatokaljpatokal
117k18372531
117k18372531
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
@HeidelBerGensis I anonymized the question. If the nationality of the visitor makes a difference, please address that in your answer.
– Mindwin
May 19 '16 at 20:11
Possible duplicate of Once in Israel, are tourists allowed to exit to the areas outside of the Israeli responsibility (Palestinian areas)?
– David Richerby
May 19 '16 at 21:09
1
The suggested duplicate only addresses the case of the West Bank but not Gaza.
– mts
May 19 '16 at 21:17
@HeidelBerGensis added localization tag.
– Mindwin
May 20 '16 at 12:09
Depending on your nationality, your flight ticket might be confiscated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on your country.
– Blaszard
May 29 '16 at 8:43