GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — #Badna_Nshouf_Doffeh (we_want_to_go_to_West_Bank) is a hashtag that has been trending on Facebook since June 3. Hundreds of Gaza Strip inhabitants used it to express their desire to visit the West Bank and its cities. Journalists and young activists posted pictures of themselves holding banners with the name of the campaign “Badna_Nshouf_Doffeh” and “Badna_Nshouf_Quds” (We want to see Jerusalem) accompanied by the hashtag.

The campaign began following Israel’s increasing use of permits for citizens from the Gaza Strip to allow them to visit the West Bank through the Erez crossing. This development stirred an important question about whether Israel’s Erez crossing in the north of Gaza might replace the Rafah border crossing — the border between Egypt and Gaza — in providing passage to the West Bank.

“In my whole 25 years, I have not been to the West Bank," said journalist Nidal al-Wahidi, who started the campaign "after noticing an increase in the number of travelers to the other side of the country.”

“We young people have the right to travel around and see our Palestinian cities,” he told Al-Monitor. "I noticed that most of those who cross over are either old, enjoy a certain favoritism or have international connections. I took this step to pressure the officials to allow the youths to travel [to the West Bank].”