Hamas: Israeli forces mistreat and extort returning residents at the Rafah border crossing

On February 3rd, local time, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) issued a statement strongly condemning Israel’s detention and interrogation of Palestinian returnees at the Rafah border crossing. The statement cited eyewitness accounts indicating that several returnees were subjected to rough treatment and extortion along the way, especially women and children. Hamas stated that these actions have gone beyond normal customs checks, aiming to create panic and prevent people from returning home, constituting “collective punishment.” (CCTV News)