Facing pressure to increase aid to the Gaza Strip, Israel announced this week that it is working towards reopening the Erez crossing, a major checkpoint between Israel and northern Gaza.
Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, stated on Saturday that Israel "plans to temporarily open the Erez Crossing to facilitate the movement of much-needed food, water, sanitation items, shelter, and health materials from the Ashdod port" in southern Israel, located north of the Erez crossing. However, the timing of the reopening remains uncertain. McGoldrick mentioned on Friday that Israel had not yet finalized the decision to open the crossing, and even if approved, the checkpoint would not be operational for a few weeks. The reopening could assist in delivering aid to the famine-stricken northern Gaza, but it might encounter the same challenges seen throughout the conflict.
Why is the Erez crossing significant? The reopening of the Erez crossing, situated on the border between northern Gaza and Israel, could serve as an entry point for aid into northern Gaza, which has been severely affected by the conflict since October 7. A report last month warned of an imminent famine in the region, a claim disputed by Israel.
Before the conflict, northern Gaza was the most densely populated area in the strip. However, much of Gaza's population has now relocated south to Rafah, on the border with Egypt, as a result of repeated evacuations due to Israeli offensives.
Israel has expressed its intention to continue its military campaign in Gaza by invading Rafah and eliminating Hamas forces there. The United States and others have expressed concerns about such an operation, cautioning that it could have severe humanitarian consequences. If the former inhabitants of northern Gaza were to return, they would find a flattened landscape with scarce food, water, or shelter. The reopening of the Erez crossing could facilitate the delivery of these essential resources.
What was Erez used for in the past? The Erez crossing, known to Palestinians as the Beit Hanoun crossing, was a crucial checkpoint between the Gaza Strip and Israel, primarily used for pedestrian traffic rather than the transport of goods or aid. Those typically permitted to cross included Palestinian patients, workers, a limited number of international and local organization employees, and international staff of diplomatic missions and institutions. Pedestrians had to pass through a long, enclosed walkway surrounded by a lattice of metal bars under strict security. Israel determined which categories of people were allowed to cross, while Hamas occasionally controlled the entry of certain Palestinians and foreigners. Commercial goods were generally not allowed to enter through the Erez crossing, except for specific allowances such as imported cars on certain days of the week. Commercial traffic was mainly directed through the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza.
What happened to the crossing on October 7th? Erez was one of the 14 places along Gaza's border with Israel breached by Hamas militants on October 7, according to a Washington Post investigation. Photos taken after the attack showed damage to the facility, with a large section of the covered footpath destroyed. Satellite imagery and a report by Al Jazeera indicated that a road at the crossing had been destroyed, raising questions about how quickly the infrastructure could be repaired to facilitate aid transit into Gaza.
Will reopening the Erez crossing be sufficient? The United States warned Israel on Thursday that it must do more to deliver aid to Gaza, vaguely suggesting that U.S. aid policy towards Israel could change if it does not.
This statement followed the killing of seven aid workers in Gaza by Israeli strikes. Even if Erez reopens, aid delivery could face the same challenges seen at the other two land entry points into the Gaza Strip — Rafah and Kerem Shalom, both in southern Gaza.
Aid groups and the international community, including the United Nations, have stated that burdensome checks and arbitrary rules imposed by Israel have impeded efforts to deliver aid to Gaza. Only a small percentage of the trucks waiting to deliver aid are allowed entry into Gaza. Once inside Gaza, they face security issues, as Gaza police have been targeted by Israel, causing aid groups to be hesitant in delivering aid due to safety concerns. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Israel must reduce delays at crossings, and the United States will monitor whether Israel can achieve "results" in improving aid deliveries to Gaza.
He added that the United States would monitor the number of aid deliveries entering Gaza "sustainably, and not just entering but also circulating, and aid being distributed throughout Gaza, including critically in northern Gaza."