With more than 90 percent of Gaza’s population displaced amid Israel’s bombing campaign and ground invasion — resulting in more than 81,000 reported Palestinian deaths since Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023 — Palestinian refugees with financial means to leave have few options.  

While a small number of people manage to obtain medical clearance or relocate to a country where they hold dual citizenship, most attempt to cross into Egypt — only to remain in limbo, where they often lack formal refugee or legal status and face severe medical and administrative hardship. 

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More recently, some of those who have crossed into Egypt have encountered so many barriers that they had to make the painful decision to return to Gaza. Among them is Omar, who fled Gaza last year after paying thousands to an Egyptian broker — only to be forced to return late last summer. (Omar is not his real name. He would only speak to Broadview under a pseudonym out of fear of reprisal by Israel.)

As a 36-year-old audio engineer who once coordinated sound production for live concerts in Gaza, Omar spoke exclusively to Broadview about his journey back to Gaza.  

Like thousands of Gazans, Omar evacuated the strip through the........

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