Israel Reopens Gaza’s Erez Crossing

By Yoni Weiss

On Wednesday, Israel reopened the Erez crossing with Gaza, marking the first time since Oct. 7 that the crossing has been operational. Thirty trucks carrying food and medical supplies from Jordan entered the northern area of the Strip through this crossing.

Situated on Gaza’s northern border, Erez was previously the sole crossing point for pedestrian traffic before the conflict. Prior to the Oct. 7 terror attacks, it mainly facilitated the passage of international personnel such as diplomats, aid workers, journalists, and Palestinians with work or medical permits. Truck traffic typically utilized the Kerem Shalom crossing at the southern end of the Strip.

The resumption of humanitarian aid through Erez became feasible following engineering efforts in the area by the Engineering Units and additional IDF forces. Previously utilized solely as a civilian crossing, the renewed Erez crossing now boasts enhanced inspection and protection infrastructure, along with paved roads on both the Israeli and Gaza sides of the border. These improvements facilitate the entry of significant aid shipments into the northern Gaza Strip.

In March, Israeli soldiers completed the demolition of the largest tunnel discovered in Gaza, which extended toward the Erez border crossing and was adjacent to Moshav Netiv HaAsara.