Instead of a Gateway to the World, Gaza Airport Is Just Another Israeli Checkpoint

"But flying out of Gaza is not an option either...I have no permit to enter Gaza," he added. "In fact, I haven't been to the Gaza Strip for years, or to Jerusalem for that matter, and it's only 20 minutes from my home. I'll pass through it today, but I can't stop!" The "safe passage" route between Gaza and the West Bank has to be worked out in negotiations as well. Meanwhile, the largely unobserved border agreement between Israel and the PA regarding Palestinian crossing points and the airport is supposed to be based on "respect for the Palestinian traveler...[and] invisibility of the Israeli presence." The agreement prohibits either side from taking unilateral measures and states that Israeli investigation of all passengers should take place in co-ordination with and in the presence of Palestinian security authorities. Palestinian passports now are being widely used among Gazans and West Bankers although not all countries accept them yet. Therefore it is worth noting that many Palestinians still travel abroad with an Israeli-issued laisser-passer that refers to the bearers as "residents" rather than citizens. The document is issued to the traveler by the Israeli military authority along with the travel permit only one day before the scheduled trip. The travel document must then be returned to the Israeli military post immediately upon return.