RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been illegally crossing the eastern border into Israel for years. Yet, what was once a rare phenomenon has now transformed into an almost daily occurrence. Palestinian youths hope to find a better life and jobs across the border, or even obtain refugee status, but they are almost always detained by Israel. Regardless, more and more youths are risking their lives to sneak across the border.

In east Gaza's Maghazi refugee camp, 15-year-old Ismail, a pseudonym, tried to sneak into Israel as a way to escape his family's difficult financial and psychological situation.

Ismail’s aunt, who raised him after his father’s death in 2006, told Al-Monitor, “He would come to me every day with ‘heroic’ stories about his attempt to cross the wire demarcating the border with other boys from the neighborhood. I tried to discourage him, but he wouldn’t stop trying.”

According to Ismail, his attempt a few weeks ago was the last. “That day, the border was scary. I was trying to cross the border alone to find a job, since I don’t want to finish my studies at school. I went out after sunset heading toward the border wire. However, suddenly the night lit up with gunfire. Miraculously I survived, and I won’t try this again.”