RAFAH, Palestine 23 Dec (ANA) - Palestinians in Gaza say it could cost up to $4,000 to expedite travel from the blockaded territory to Egypt.

A Palestinian official at the Rafah crossing, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera that an average of two buses, carrying a total of about 100 Palestinians who had paid between $600-$1,200 per person, arrived at the crossing each day that it was open.

"This vast amount of money is siphoned off from poor Gazans every month by the Egyptians," said the official.

According to OCHA, more than 168,000 people have exited Gaza through Erez so far this year, including 110,000 who belonged to the business/traders category, while some 32,400 people left with medical permits.

Hamas officials told Al Jazeera that Israeli intelligence agents often attempt to recruit the Palestinians who are allowed to travel via Erez to spy on the organisation in Gaza.

Israel has waged three wars against Hamas in Gaza since 2008, in which thousands of Palestinian civilians were killed and many residential areas destroyed.

In an attempt to counter recruitment efforts by Israeli intelligence officials, Hamas has imposed requirements on those who travel to Israel to obtain permits and also provide it with detailed information about their reason for travelling.

On the Palestinian side at the Erez crossing, Hamas officials have plastered posters warning Palestinians about potential interactions with Israeli intelligence officers.

"Do not listen to the [Israeli] intelligence threats of hurting you," one poster read.

"Don't be on the side of the enemy against your own people and your own homeland, don't give them the chance," said another.(ANA)

FA/ANA/23 December 2019----