Egypt: Sinai firm charging trucks entering Gaza $20,000 in ‘bribes’

Despite the ceasefire deal in Gaza, corruption at the border with Egypt still hinders the population’s access to aid and foodstuff reports Middle East Eye on February 13th.

As access to the Gaza strip has eased following the ceasefire, the Egyptian company run by tribal leader Ibrahim al-Organi has retained control of the operation of the border, allowing it to search trucks and determine entry into the strip.

According to a source that spoke to MME, trucks that carry commercial goods are charged $20,000 for entry, with aid trucks being also subject to extortion.

Al-Origani, a Sinai Businessman and tribal leader allied with President el-Sissi first became famous when it was revealed his company made $2m daily from Palestinian escaping the warzone through Rafah crossing. It was later revealed that al-Origani’s company Sons of Sinai also charged $5000 to aid trucks crossing into Gaza.

Yet, it is today clear that he has maintained his control over the border despite the ceasefire agreement that provided for the unhindered and urgent entrance of aid into the Gaza strip.

As a result, the Red Crescent, which was originally tasked with operational control of the border, must contract with Origani’s companies, leading to “corruption and bribes, as payments are made to prioritise the passage of certain trucks over others,” a source at the Rafah crossing says.

“The Red Crescent, of course, cannot challenge them, and its presence has become merely symbolic,” he adds.

The cartel also oversees logistical operation in its warehouses where trucks are loaded with aid coming from the nearby Arish city airport and sent to two Israeli crossing along with Rafah. The whole process is carried with security personnel affiliated with the Sinai group.

The ceasefire agreement ramping up the crossings to at least 600 trucks a day was hardly bad news for Sons of Sinai, which has decreased its fee to $20,000, as it was reported that Israel allowed 801 trucks on February 12th.

These fees have resulted in the company privileging trucks transporting commercial goods over aid truck, thereby worsening the inflation that already burdens Palestinians in the flattened strip of land.

“[Entry fees] remain one of the reasons for the high prices of goods inside the Strip, making it difficult for families to purchase necessities that aid does not cover”, says a source working at a crossing.

As if that were not enough, the cartel also owns and rents most of the trucks that are involved in aid transportation. Merchants MEE spoke to claim the group has a “near-monopoly” on the market.

Since Israel withdrew, Palestinians affiliated with the Palestinian Authority have overseen the crossing, a source at the crossing says, adding that the personnel were not affiliated with Hamas.

Israel and Hamas are set to continue discussing a permanent ceasefire this week, after Hamas declared it would transfer power of Gaza to the PA.