Mona loved the sound of the sea very much. In Gaza, the contact with the sea, the waves and the warm sun, all this made her forget for a while the challenges of everyday life.

But the war changed everything. And in bustling Cairo where Mona is now, the sea is but a memory.

Fleeing the horrors of Gaza

Mona (not her real name) has been living in the Egyptian capital for six months with her three children. She and her family have been forced to relocate several times in their attempt to escape the bombs and drones of the Israeli army. “I’ve seen too much death and pain,” the 31-year-old says with despair. In addition, in order to be able to come with her children to Egypt, Mona had to leave her husband in Gaza: “We had to leave him behind, because otherwise we wouldn’t have enough money to travel abroad.” The family managed to raise $5,000 in donations so they could leave Gaza and settle in Egypt.

And her stay in Cairo did not start with the best omens. Shortly after arriving at her first apartment, Mona was evicted from there as well. Her landlady feared repercussions from the Egyptian state because she was renting the apartment to Palestinian refugees.

While several thousand sick and wounded were able to be transferred to Egyptian hospitals in Cairo, many Palestinians from Gaza also came to the city with the help of embassies of other states, as well as with the assistance of an Egyptian mediation company.

This company was asking for a high “coordinating fee” in order to help the Palestinians escape from Gaza – and it was to this company that Mona and her children turned. Although the company denies it, it is also reportedly working with Egyptian security services.

Egypt: Palestinians from Gaza should not live here

It is unclear how many Palestinians have come from Gaza and are in Egypt. In early May, the Palestinian ambassador to Egypt, Diab al-Lukh, spoke of about 100,000 people. However, the activists who had contact with the refugees estimate that in reality there were probably more. Since May 7, the border crossing at Rafah has been closed – and this is making it very difficult for Mona’s husband to come and find his family in Egypt.

In particular, refugees who come to Egypt without being sick or injured are essentially on their own. Most have some sort of tourist visa, which has long since expired, and are therefore staying in the country illegally – denying them access to public education, public health and other services.

These people do not fit into any category: Palestinian refugees do not officially fall under the original mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and therefore do not receive official support. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is responsible for Palestinian refugees, but it has never had a mandate to operate in Egypt. Thus, refugees depend on private groups of volunteers who give them food, clothes and shoes, collect donations or find them a job.

According to an analysis by the Crisis Group think tank, the war in Gaza poses serious challenges for Egypt.

Public outrage over what Israel is doing in the Gaza Strip could – the Egyptian regime fears – lead to demonstrations against the government, especially in view of the country’s difficult economic situation. Last March dozens of protesters were arrested in Egypt, while they were protesting about the high inflation and poverty that exists in the country.

Egypt does not want the Palestinians from Gaza to settle permanently in the country, since according to the Crisis Group there is concern that Israel will not allow the refugees to return.

Mona does not want to think about whether she will ever be able to return to Gaza. “My first weeks here in Cairo were very difficult. But then I met Lucy,” he says.

The necessary help of volunteers

Lucy – who also wishes to remain anonymous – is one of the people who came into Mona’s life and changed everything.

Lucy is from Germany but has been living in Egypt for almost 20 years. That is why Cairo is like her homeland – and she is quite networked in the city. Lucy cares deeply for women like Mona, women who were forced to leave their homeland and are now forced to live in another country.

“Lucy is a lovely, good person,” Mona says from her heart. “He not only helped me when I became pregnant in Cairo, but also found us food. She helps my kids with everything. And it is her help that allows my children to live in Cairo as children.”

Lucy offers help not out of charity, but out of solidarity. “Mutual aid is different,” he explains. “It is community-oriented, it is anti-capitalist, and it is not associated with large Western organizations, which are often solely aimed at serving their own interests.”

In the past in Germany, Lucy helped many refugees and families. The meeting with Mona, however, had a special meaning for her. He can feel the strength and pride that the people of Gaza have, despite what they have been through. “Mona always says she is Palestinian, a daughter of Gaza. And she’s proud of it.”

No rights and no job

Nevertheless, Mona and the other Palestinians who have come to Cairo face serious legal difficulties. Because she has not received a residence permit, Mona is at a standstill. Her children cannot go to school and she herself is not allowed to work. “In Gaza I knew everyone and everything, everyone was willing to help,” says Mona. “Egyptians are generous people, but the government doesn’t want us.”

“Gaza is my soul,” says Mona. She misses the streets, the cafes, the feeling of belonging. “I love Gaza, as well as Palestine,” she says, her voice trembling. “I don’t know if my house is still standing. The fear that there will be another war there and that my children will be in danger does not leave me alone.” That’s why Mona doesn’t think she can return to Gaza for now. He really wants to go back, “but only when it’s safe to do so.”

Edited by: Giorgos Passas