"Gaza Palestinians Pay Thousands to Flee to Egypt"

As the death toll rises in the Gaza Strip and Israel threatens a ground operation, the demand to leave Gaza is soaring, but the only open border for travelers is tightly controlled. Palestinians are paying thousands of dollars to an Egyptian company, Hala Consulting and Tourism, to secure passage through Egypt's Rafah border crossing. The fees, which have skyrocketed during the war, are a financial burden for most families in Gaza, and the process is complicated and murky. The high fees also reflect Egypt's policy on absorbing Palestinians during the war, as it struggles economically and aims to prevent mass displacement and the entry of Islamist militants.