Gazans in Egypt Live in Limbo, Faced with Uncertainty and Survivor's Guilt

Strategic Insights -

Fatima, an interpreter from Gaza, cannot shake off the feeling that time has stopped for her back home. Since the start of the war, she has been living in Egypt, unable to move forward or go back, haunted by survivor's guilt and uncertainty about her future. Like thousands of other Gazans who have sought refuge in Egypt, Fatima's life is in limbo.

Fatima's experience is not unique. According to the Palestinian Authority's ambassador in Cairo, there are 80,000 to 100,000 Gazans in Egypt who fled the enclave between October 7, 2023, and May due to Israel's military offensive. These individuals are caught in a legal and emotional limbo, unable to legally work, and struggling to make ends meet.

The Gazans in Egypt have been forced to rely on GoFundMe campaigns, foreign embassies, and anxious phone calls to loved ones back home. Many have set up makeshift homes in Cairo apartments, with families facing tuition costs of $1,000 per year for private schools. Architect Malak al-Dirawi and her husband paid $13,000 to Al Hala, an Egyptian tourism company linked to the Egyptian military, to enter Egypt but now struggle to afford basic needs.

The psychological toll is evident, with many Gazans experiencing survivor's guilt. Haitham, a humanitarian worker who cannot reveal his full name, says, "There is a part in all of us that feels we are reliving the Nakba." He feels guilty about leaving Gaza and aiding "ethnic cleansing" by doing what the Israeli occupation wants. Others, like Fatima, struggle to accept their new life and are plagued by questions of why they survived while others did not.

Despite their hardships, many Gazans in Egypt long to return home to a Gaza that they fear might no longer exist. The war continues to claim hundreds of lives per week, and the guilt of having survived weighs heavily on their souls.

Key Takeaways:

  • Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Gazans are living in Egypt after fleeing their enclave due to Israel's military offensive.
  • Gazans in Egypt are unable to legally work, relying on GoFundMe campaigns and foreign embassies for support.
  • Families face significant costs for private school tuition, with architect Malak al-Dirawi and her husband paying $13,000 to enter Egypt.
  • Many Gazans in Egypt experience survivor's guilt, feeling guilty for leaving Gaza and aiding "ethnic cleansing."
  • Despite hardships, many Gazans long to return home to a Gaza they fear might no longer exist.

Statistics:

  • 80,000 to 100,000 Gazans are living in Egypt after fleeing their enclave.
  • The war in Gaza has claimed hundreds of lives per week.
  • Families in Egypt face $1,000 per year tuition costs for private schools.
  • Architect Malak al-Dirawi and her husband paid $13,000 to enter Egypt.

Sources:

  • The Palestinian Authority's ambassador in Cairo
  • Fatima, an interpreter from Gaza
  • Haitham, a humanitarian worker who cannot reveal his full name
  • Malak al-Dirawi, an architect
  • Fairouz Sabbah, a financial manager from Gaza City
  • Etaf Miqdad, a bank teller from Rafah
  • Kawther, a mother of three who has lived in Cairo since April