Can Palestinians Leave Gaza?
The Supreme Court recorded 0 permits to leave Gaza into Israel after 7 October 2023. COGAT counts close to 5,000 patients and escorts exiting.
Zero entry or exit permits between Israel and Gaza had been issued by COGAT for any purpose since 7 October 2023, the Israeli Supreme Court recorded in its judgment of 8 January 2024. That is COGAT’s own practice as the Court sets it out. Erez, the only crossing for people between Israel and Gaza, was out of operation. The route that did operate was COGAT’s third-country mechanism: on COGAT’s own count, close to 5,000 ill and wounded people, along with escorts, left via Kerem Shalom wherever a receiving state agreed to take them and security screening cleared them.
| Figure | What it counts | Who published it | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Entry or exit permits between Israel and Gaza, for any purpose, under COGAT’s practice | Israeli Supreme Court, HCJ 8884/23 | 7 October 2023 to 8 January 2024 |
| 1 | Crossings for movement of people between Israel and Gaza (Erez), out of operation | Israeli Supreme Court, HCJ 8884/23 | Since 7 October 2023 |
| Close to 5,000 | Ill and wounded people, along with escorts, who exited via Kerem Shalom to third countries; COGAT’s own count | COGAT | No period stated |
| Approximately 9,500 | Foreign nationals and dual citizens evacuated with Israeli assistance; the Ministry’s own count | Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Cumulative to 16 December 2023 |
| Over 750 | Patients who exited Gaza for care overseas; the Ministry’s own count | Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs | Cumulative to 16 December 2023 |
| 8 | Areas into which COGAT’s own document classifies entry permits | Knesset Research and Information Centre, citing COGAT | Document updated 13 January 2022 |
HCJ 8884/23 records no exit permits from Gaza into Israel
The Israeli Supreme Court recorded, sitting as the High Court of Justice on 8 January 2024, that COGAT had issued no entry or exit permits between Israel and Gaza “לכל מטרה שהיא” (for any purpose) since 7 October 2023. That is COGAT’s own practice, as the Court records it in paragraph 3. The same paragraph records that the Erez crossing, the only crossing for movement of people between Israel and Gaza, was attacked and is out of operation.
| What the Court records | Finding | Paragraph |
|---|---|---|
| Permits between Israel and Gaza, for any purpose | 0, under COGAT’s practice | 3 |
| Crossings for movement of people | 1, Erez, out of operation | 3 |
| Independent entry of journalists | Not possible | 3 |
| Basis of the holding | The security situation at the time | 10 |
Source: Israeli Supreme Court, HCJ 8884/23, judgment of 8 January 2024. The English renderings of the Hebrew are this site’s translation.
The petition concerned foreign journalists, and the High Court held that it be dismissed for lack of grounds to intervene. Paragraph 10 ties the holding to the security situation at the time, and leaves the petitioner free to renew its request if circumstances change.
COGAT sets no number limit on Gazans exiting, it states
COGAT states that “Israel did not impose any limitation on the number of Gazans who may exit Gaza.” That is COGAT’s own statement about its own policy, and it rests on two conditions: a receiving state, and security screening. COGAT’s page continues: “The scale of exits was entirely contingent on a third country submitting a request and agreeing to receive those exiting Gaza.”
COGAT gives two routes in sequence, on its own account:
| Route | Period COGAT gives | Destinations COGAT names |
|---|---|---|
| Rafah Crossing | Until the IDF ground operation in Rafah, early May 2024 | Egypt |
| Kerem Shalom Crossing | As of August 2024 | Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and various other countries |
Source: COGAT, Medical Response (Gaza) page, read 29 September 2026.
The Kerem Shalom figure is close to 5,000 people, including escorts, on COGAT’s own count, with no period stated. The detail of who left for treatment is on the record on Gaza patients leaving for treatment.
The Foreign Ministry counts about 9,500 foreign nationals evacuated
The Israeli Foreign Ministry counted approximately 9,500 foreign nationals and dual citizens evacuated from Gaza with Israeli assistance, cumulative to 16 December 2023. That is the Ministry’s own count of evacuations it assisted. The same page counts over 750 patients who exited Gaza for care overseas, to the same date.
| Figure | What it counts | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Approximately 9,500 | Foreign nationals and dual citizens evacuated with Israeli assistance | Cumulative to 16 December 2023 |
| Over 750 | Patients who exited Gaza for care overseas | Cumulative to 16 December 2023 |
Source: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023: Humanitarian Efforts; the Ministry’s own counts.
The over 750 patients and COGAT’s close to 5,000 are different counts over different windows, by different Israeli bodies. The Ministry’s figure runs to 16 December 2023, when exits went through Rafah. COGAT’s own count covers exits via Kerem Shalom, includes escorts and states no period. The two may not be added together.
Gaza residents were a small minority of 2018 to 2020 permit holders
Before 7 October 2023, leaving Gaza through Israel meant holding a COGAT entry permit. The Knesset’s Research and Information Centre reported in June 2023 that entry into Israel for any purpose requires a COGAT permit, and that COGAT’s own document, updated 13 January 2022, classifies permits in 8 areas:
- Health
- Legal
- Studies
- Employment
- Economy
- Religious worship
- Senior Palestinian officials
- Population movement for various needs
On partial COGAT data released under freedom of information, the Information Centre reported that the great majority of permit holders in 2018 to 2020 were residents of Judea and Samaria, the paper’s term for the West Bank, and a small minority were residents of Gaza. The data is COGAT’s own. The Centre records that it received no permit total: despite repeated requests, no answer came from COGAT or the National Security Council. The paper gives no Gaza number. The same absence is set out on what Israel publishes on movement permits.
No Israeli body here publishes a total of Gazans who left
None of the 4 Israeli publications on this page gives a total of Gaza residents who left after 7 October 2023, by any route. The absences are these:
- No count of all Gaza residents who exited since 7 October 2023, by Rafah, Kerem Shalom or any other route.
- No exit figure for the ceasefire period from 10 October 2025.
- No statement of Rafah’s operating status after May 2024. COGAT’s own page states only that Rafah closed and that exits ran via Kerem Shalom as of August 2024.
- No start or end date for COGAT’s own close to 5,000 count.
- The Court’s record of COGAT’s practice is fixed to 8 January 2024, under paragraph 10 of the judgment.
Which of these figures may not be added together?
None of the departure figures on this page may be summed. The Foreign Ministry’s approximately 9,500 foreign nationals and over 750 patients are the Ministry’s own counts to 16 December 2023. COGAT’s close to 5,000 is COGAT’s own count of patients and escorts via Kerem Shalom, with no stated period. The 0 permits is COGAT’s practice as the Supreme Court recorded it on 8 January 2024, and the Knesset Centre’s permit finding describes shares in 2018 to 2020, not a count.
Questions readers ask
Can a Gaza resident get a permit to enter Israel?
The Israeli Supreme Court recorded on 8 January 2024 that COGAT had issued no entry or exit permits between Israel and Gaza for any purpose since 7 October 2023. That is COGAT’s own practice as the Court records it, fixed to the time of the judgment.
Is the Erez crossing open?
The Supreme Court recorded in HCJ 8884/23 that Erez, the only crossing for movement of people between Israel and Gaza, was attacked on 7 October 2023 and is out of operation. The judgment is dated 8 January 2024.
Can a patient in Gaza leave for treatment abroad?
COGAT’s mechanism document describes a voluntary evacuation through Israel to a third country. On COGAT’s own account it needs a receiving state’s consent, a list submitted to COGAT’s medical response team, and security screening.
Which countries took patients from Gaza?
COGAT states, on its own count, that patients exited via Kerem Shalom for treatment in Egypt, the UAE, Jordan and various other countries. Before May 2024, COGAT states, they exited through Rafah into Egypt.
Does Israel cap the number of people leaving Gaza?
COGAT states that “Israel did not impose any limitation on the number of Gazans who may exit Gaza.” That is COGAT’s own statement of its policy, which ties the scale of exits to a third country requesting and agreeing to receive them.
When did exits through Rafah stop?
COGAT states that patients exited through Rafah until the IDF ground operation there in early May 2024. On COGAT’s own account, exits ran via Kerem Shalom as of August 2024.
Can relatives leave with a patient?
COGAT’s own count of close to 5,000 covers ill and wounded people along with escorts. Its mechanism document requires a list of patients and companions to be submitted to COGAT.
Can an evacuation be refused?
COGAT’s mechanism document states that evacuations “will not be approved if there are security reasons that prevent their passage”. That is COGAT’s own procedure.
How many foreign nationals left Gaza?
The Israeli Foreign Ministry counted approximately 9,500 foreign nationals and dual citizens evacuated with Israeli assistance, cumulative to 16 December 2023. That is the Ministry’s own count.
How did Gaza residents leave through Israel before the war?
The Knesset’s Research and Information Centre reported in June 2023 that entry into Israel for any purpose requires a COGAT permit, in 8 areas under COGAT’s own classification. Health, studies, employment and religious worship are among them.
How many permits did Gaza residents hold before the war?
The Information Centre reported that Gaza residents were a small minority of permit holders in 2018 to 2020, on partial COGAT data. It received no total from COGAT despite repeated requests, and gives no Gaza number.
Can journalists enter Gaza independently?
The Supreme Court recorded on 8 January 2024 that independent entry of journalists was not possible, and the High Court held that the press association’s petition be dismissed. The Court called escorted entry “a balanced and reasonable policy”, tied to the security situation at the time.
Is there an Israeli count of exits during the ceasefire?
None of the Israeli publications on this page gives an exit figure for the period from 10 October 2025. The Foreign Ministry counted its figures only to 16 December 2023, and COGAT states no period for its own close to 5,000 count.
Sources
- COGAT, undated. Medical Response (Gaza), https://gaza-aid-data.gov.il/mainhome/medical-response/, read 29 September 2026; and Medical Evacuation Mechanism of Gaza Residents to Third Countries Through Israel, 6 pages, https://www.gov.il/BlobFolder/policy/medical-evacuation-mechanism-of-gaza-residents-en/en/Medical%20Evacuation%20Mechanism%20of%20Gaza%20Residents%20to%20Third%20Countries%20Through%20Israel.pdf. Official or primary record, self-reported by an Israeli Ministry of Defense unit.
- Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2023. Israel-Hamas Conflict 2023: Humanitarian Efforts. https://www.gov.il/en/pages/israel-hamas-conflict-2023-humanitarian-efforts. Official or primary record, self-reported.
- Israeli Supreme Court, 2024. HCJ 8884/23 Foreign Press Association in Israel v. Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, judgment of 8 January 2024. https://supremedecisions.court.gov.il/Home/Download?path=HebrewVerdicts/23/840/088/p04&fileName=23088840.P04&type=2. Official or primary record, court judgment, Hebrew.
- Knesset Research and Information Centre, 2023. Data on Palestinians with Entry Permits and Illegal Stayers Arrested for Terror and Security Offences, 4 June 2023. https://fs.knesset.gov.il/globaldocs/MMM/5e41b770-ae7b-ed11-8150-005056aac6c3/2_5e41b770-ae7b-ed11-8150-005056aac6c3_11_20165.pdf. Official or primary record, Hebrew.
