The New York Times conducted an interview with Ibrahim al-Organi on June 20, alongside a special report on Palestinians paying large sums to leave Gaza. In one statement to the newspaper, al-Organi mentioned that his company transports Gaza residents to Egypt through the Rafah border crossing for $2,500 per person.
Following the Times’ interview, numerous social media pages and accounts shared a claim stating that al-Organi did not make these statements to the newspaper, whether in person, over the phone, or via message.
The claim added that the report explicitly noted, "Executives at Hala company did not respond to questions sent via email," and that "Ibrahim al-Organi, who describes himself as a shareholder in Organi Group, which incorporates Hala, disputed the idea that the company sets such prices," which were not included in the two reports on al-Organi published by The New York Times.
Misbar analyzed the claim and found it misleading. According to Misbar, The New York Times published al-Organi’s statements following an interview at his office in Cairo, as detailed in the two reports.
Misbar's team contacted The New York Times to confirm the interview. The newspaper confirmed to Misbar that the interview took place at Ibrahim al-Organi’s office in Cairo on Monday, June 10, where al-Organi spoke for two hours, elaborating on Hala tourism company’s activities. The photo accompanying the article was taken at Organi Group offices in Cairo. The Times published a fact-check on Tuesday, June 25, containing this information.
Regarding Hala executives not responding to the newspaper’s emails, this occurred in a separate context from The Times’ interview with al-Organi. Statements from anonymous sources came in a third context, revealing a link between the Egyptian government and Hala company.
The report did not mention al-Organi’s stance on the company charging Palestinians to leave Gaza during the ongoing war, an allegation highlighted by various local and international media reports since October 7, supported by evidence and testimonies.
Al-Organi Says Hala Charges Palestinians Thousands of Dollars To Cross Rafah
A New York Times report titled “Who is the Egyptian tycoon accused of charging Palestinians to escape Gaza?” said that, according to three informed sources and unnamed diplomats, Ibrahim al-Organi, owner and president of the Organi Group investing in construction, real estate, and security, “maintains close connections to top Egyptian officials” and “used these connections to strengthen his business interests.”
The report pointed out that Hala company, previously owned by al-Organi before its recent removal, became “a lifeline for Palestinians trying to escape war-torn Gaza but has also been accused of squeezing desperate people with exorbitant fees,” according to the newspaper. Al-Organi stated in an interview this month that “his role at the company is limited and he is just a shareholder among others.”
The report indicated that executives at Hala company did not respond to questions sent by email from the Times, including inquiries about the reasons for Hala’s removal from Organi Group's list of companies.
Among al-Organi’s statements to the newspaper, he mentioned that “Hala is just a tourism company set up in 2017 to provide V.I.P. services to Palestinian travelers who wanted an upgraded experience crossing through Rafah.”
The report states that individuals who paid for Hala services indicated that most Gazans paid $2,500 for those below 16 and $5,000 for older individuals. However, al-Organi told the newspaper that the company “charges $2,500 for adults and does not charge for children.”
In another Times report titled “When the only escape from war in Gaza is to buy a way out,” published on June 20, al-Organi explained that the amount is necessary because Hala provides a “V.I.P” service and operating costs soared during the war. He added that he assists Palestinians “when they want to enter the V.I.P. hall, have breakfast, be driven to Cairo in a nice BMW, have a rest stop, and then continue to their destination.”
However, according to the report, several Palestinians who used Hala services to leave Gaza indicated that they were transported to Cairo in a regular minibus and provided basic food.
Local and International Media Reports on Hala Activities at Rafah Crossing
A report published by the British newspaper The Times on April 27 revealed that the Hala company may have made nearly $90 million in profits in just a few weeks, charging fees in thousands of dollars to Gaza inhabitants fleeing the war. The report was based on testimonies from Gaza residents.
In response, Egyptian authorities completely denied these allegations. Diaa Rashwan, head of the State Information Service, stated on January 10 that some media outlets circulated “false allegations regarding the fees collected from travelers through the Rafah crossing, relying on anonymous sources.”
Rashwan denied the collection of any additional fees from those entering Gaza and rejected “allegations that any unofficial party is charging financial compensation for crossing into Egyptian territory.” This contradicts what businessman Ibrahim al-Organi told The New York Times this month.
Misbar Obtains Testimonies From Gazans Who Paid Thousands of Dollars To Cross Rafah
In an interview Misbar conducted with Palestinian citizen S.A. (whose real name we cannot disclose to preserve her safety), the 43-year-old woman stated that she paid the Hala company $5,000 in exchange for her exit from Gaza. She indeed left for Egypt in April.
Young man Imad (a pseudonym, whose real name we cannot disclose for his safety) also confirmed to Misbar that he paid $6,000 to leave Gaza, including $5,000 to Hala and $1,000 to an agent to facilitate his registration with the company in Egypt, as he does not have a first-degree relative there to register him. He also departed with the company in April.
Misbar also obtained a transaction receipt from the Hala tourism company located in Nasr City, Cairo. The receipt was issued to the agent of one of the company’s clients after paying the required amount of $5,000 to cross through the Rafah crossing.
Who Is Ibrahim Al-Organi?
The name of Ibrahim al-Organi first appeared in Egyptian media in 2008 after Egyptian police shot his brother and two friends during a sit-in by Sinai Bedouins. The police claimed they were armed, an accusation strongly denied by al-Organi.
Following the discovery of the bodies of those killed in a garbage warehouse, al-Organi reportedly kidnapped dozens of police agents. The kidnapped individuals were freed by police a day later, leading to al-Organi's arrest. He remained in prison until his release in July 2010. Afterward, he began establishing his own business group, starting with the Sons of Sinai Construction Company.
After the extensive Israeli occupation aggression against Gaza in 2014, Egypt received an invitation to attend the Gaza Strip Reconstruction Conference. During this period, al-Organi's company exclusively controlled transportation and shipping efforts to Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
In the subsequent years, al-Organi's business expanded, encompassing several companies under the name "Orjani Group" operating in construction, real estate, transportation, and tourism. The Sinai Tribes Union, with a significant number of tribesmen and representatives, has also expanded its activities alongside al-Organi.
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