The suffering of the Gaza Strip is not limited to its besieged residents who are currently undergoing indiscriminate and constant bombardment, as the circle of suffering has widened to include Palestinian workers from Gaza who were in ‘48 Occupied territories. Israel began granting work permits several years ago to some Palestinians in Gaza who meet the requirements and an estimated 18,000 workers were in Israeli facilities. After Hamas carried out the al-Aqsa Flood Operation on Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli authorities revoked all work permits for these workers, and the police began collecting and expelling them in brutal fashion to Palestinian Authority-controlled areas in the West Bank. Most of these workers arrived in various Palestinian cities and towns in the West Bank carrying little of their personal belongings and some cash. They were received by Palestinian institutions, specifically provincial offices, civil institutions, and some schools, hotels, and private sector companies. As one staff member in the Ramallah governor’s office said, they did not expect such a large number of workers to arrive all at once because the institutions in the city were not ready to receive them.
On the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 11, nearly 300 workers arrived in Ramallah, and an increasing numbers continue to arrive over the following days. The director of the First Ramallah Brigade Sports Club, Khalid Alian, said:
We initially received our full capacity, 75 workers, after the governorate office suddenly asked us to do so, but we were surprised the next day by the arrival of hundreds of workers to the institution, which created a crisis in the facilities of the institution and housing in the face of all other requirements. The club only has sports facilities and the requisite simple bathrooms, therefore, it is not qualified to receive arrivals for housing and overnight stays, as these workers lived in its sports fields, after the members of the club and the people of the city donated the accommodation requirements and other basic needs.
But the great solidarity for these expelled workers that has been shown by the people and villages of the city has had a great impact in alleviating their suffering because they are helping to provide everything necessary, along with the city’s institutions. The residents of the city have rushed to receive the workers, as civil institutions provided in-kind and financial donations to provide for their basic needs. The city’s official dignitaries and local delegations headed to the reception centers to support workers and provide significant assistance.
One of the workers from Gaza shared:
We used to work as a group in construction in Shafa‘amr in the ‘48 Palestine, where the employer secured housing and work for us. Suddenly, the war took place in Gaza, and we are from the town of Jabaliya and from the Beit Lahiya area in the north. The war began, and we were in danger, we couldn’t move inside. Workers from Gaza inside were beaten and attacked, and we felt afraid and threatened with deportation, we stayed at work until today [on Wednesday, October 11]. We were in obvious danger, as the police began to chase down workers. We could not continue working, and we remained in housing without work, and we could not get food and basic needs in light of the police pursuits as they spread in the streets. We had to move from the north to the Umm al-Rayhan checkpoint in Jenin, and then come to Ramallah … Work permits were withdrawn from us at night via the coordinator app, and our work status was changed to illegal. We saw a call on Facebook that Laila Ghannam, governor of Ramallah, posted about the reception of workers from Gaza, so we came after hardship and with help from the people of Shafa‘amr. The people in Shafa‘amr did not let us down but they advised us to return or move to the West Bank areas. And since the return to Gaza became dangerous and impossible, we had to go to Ramallah. In fact, the Governor and the people of Ramallah have welcomed us with open arms, and all that we are missing is to hear reassuring news from our families in Gaza.
Another worker recounts that he was working at the Ramy Levy Supermarket in the al-Qastel area:
When the events took place on Saturday, we came to Ramallah, avoiding any problem with the Jewish population in the area where we were. All our fear is for the people of Gaza. What is happening in Gaza is not to be treated lightly. We arrived today as a group of 28 workers to Ramallah, most of us are from Khan Younis and al-Barej. The Jerusalemite operator (Abu Osama) from eastern Sawahera took care of us, and our residence was in Wadi al-Hummus. He helped us from the beginning of the war, secured our arrival in al-Eizariya, then secured another car from al-Eizariya to take us to Ramallah, paying the car expenses. Since the first days of the war, we were in his hospitality, he took care of our food and drinks at his own expense.
Workers from Gaza moved to Ramallah since it is the safest area currently. One of them said that he came to Ramallah after a call from other workers who said that they arrived there, and that the governorate of Ramallah and al-Bireh provided accommodation and housing for the workers. Approximately 600 workers flocked to Ramallah on October 10, 2023. Soon after, the number began to increase rapidly until it reached about 3,000 workers in the city of Ramallah alone. A Ramallah governorate employee said that when the youth and people of Ramallah learned of the arrival of the workers, they started a social campaign to volunteer and collect donations to provide workers with their basic needs. Young people were soliciating donations to guarantee the workers’ lunch the next day. Taking care of these workers became a matter of solidarity as is common in Palestinian society. Despite the popular support in the West Bank for these workers, and the provision of all their necessities, we noticed during our visits the anxiety these workers experienced for their families and relatives in the Gaza Strip. They spent their waiting hours under great tension and great fear of devastating news arriving from their towns and cities. They already lived under difficult and stressful conditions, but this time it was away from their families who have been suffering under continuous Israeli bombing and airstrikes since the afternoon of Saturday, October 7.
Despite the anxiety, fear, and lack of basic needs among workers, the warmth from community members and care from Palestinian institutions was important in contributing to the mental health and collective identity of all Palestinians involved. By chance, one of the workers who came to Ramallah met a young Palestinian that he had previously been incarcerated with in the same Israeli prison. They met near al-Manara Square and conversed, exchanging reassurances and compliments after years of absence, and perhaps forgot for a moment the devastations in Gaza. This is an important indicator of existing social familiarity, popular cohesion, and solidarity, and a reflection of the common destiny of all Palestinians inside and outside of historic Palestine.
