Anger is mounting among Israelis fleeing the war with Iran via Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula , after authorities raised border crossing fees and hotels increased prices, according to Israeli media reports.
The newspaper Israel Hayom said Egyptian authorities had sharply increased fees at the Taba crossing, a key exit point for Israelis leaving the country, while hotels in South Sinai were charging higher rates for Israeli visitors.
"Crossing fees for individuals at the Taba crossing have reached $120, compared to $60 last week," the newspaper reported, adding that vehicle crossing fees had also risen to $50, up from $10 before the war.
The report said the price hikes have fuelled frustration among Israelis attempting to leave via Sinai, particularly as the crossing is being used as a transit route out of the region.
Hotels in tourist areas, including Sharm el-Sheikh, have also raised prices, with the Israeli daily reporting that increases appeared to target Israeli customers in particular.
A review of prices on global booking platforms showed differences between Israeli tourists and other nationalities for the same services, the newspaper added.
"Prices on international booking platforms reveal differences between Israeli tourists and Europeans and visitors from Asia for the same services," the report noted, adding that rates were often higher for Israelis.
A stay for two people at a resort in Sharm reached around $721 for Israelis, compared to $672 for other foreign tourists.
At the Pickalbatros Aqua Blu hotel, prices were reported to reach $1,900 for Israelis, while those booking from outside the occupied Palestinian territories could find rates as low as $490.
Booking.com said accommodation prices are set dynamically by property owners and depend on factors such as seasonality and demand, responding to claims of differential pricing.
"Accommodation prices are determined dynamically by property owners and are influenced by several factors such as season and demand," the platform said.
Egyptian sources told the newspaper that the increase in crossing fees was linked to the growing number of Israelis using the Taba crossing solely as a transit point without staying in Egypt.
The sources said this practice was causing losses in tourism revenues, prompting authorities to raise fees.
The Sinai route has become an important corridor for Israelis seeking to leave the region during the war, particularly with flights being grounded, with crossings through Taba and onward travel via Sharm el-Sheikh offering access to international air routes.
About 30,000 people are reported to have left Israel via land crossings with Egypt and Jordan over a roughly 10-day period, according to Israeli government data, with thousands more continuing to exit through Sinai as the war disrupts travel.