Getting into Gaza is both difficult and unwise. In fact, as of around 2003, all would-be visitors were required to apply in advance for Israeli permission to enter the Strip. The application is usually submitted through your embassy in Israel and, in theory takes between 5-10 days. In practice, it can take months, and if you're not either a fully accredited journalist or an aid/human rights worker, you're unlikely to get permission to enter Gaza from Israel.
It is possible to enter Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing. The crossing was reopened for traffic on June 1, 2010 though some restrictions still apply and only large groups on NGO sponsored trips will be admitted. Egyptian authorities control only their side of the crossing with Hamas police operating the other side. The only Palestinians exiting through the crossing offically are those who also hold foreign passports, requiring medical treatment or leaving for foreign universities. Reports exist of Hamas police asking for bribes of up to $5,000 to allow people, including Palestinians, out of Gaza.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Gaza
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Gaza - updated May 2024
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Gaza Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
