Israel/Palestinian Territories: Egypt-Gaza border point opens Nov. 18

Event

The Rafah border crossing point between Gaza and Egypt opened for the first time in 80 days on Saturday, November 18. Egyptian authorities are allowing the crossing point to remain open for three days on a humanitarian basis. Israel and Egypt agreed to opening the border after Hamas allowed the Palestinian Authority (PA) to resume control of the crossing on November 1. According to Hamas, around 30,000 people have been waiting to travel between Gaza and Egypt.

Context

This is the first time that the PA has controlled the border crossing point since 2007. Hamas gave up control as part of a deal brokered by Egypt to end the ongoing dispute between the movement and the PA. According to media reports, residents hope that the move will eventually lead to the Rafah crossing remaining open permanently. Talks between Hamas, the PA, and other Palestinian groups are scheduled to resume in Cairo on November 21.

The Gaza Strip has been under the control of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas since June 2007, after which Israeli authorities initiated a blockade of the territory. Humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated over the past decade, with almost all water in the territory undrinkable and severe power cuts common. The coastal enclave is one of the most densely-populated regions of the world, home to over 2 million people.

Advice

Individuals in the area should anticipate an increase in vehicle traffic around the Rafah crossing point as well as a heightened security presence.

Due to the ongoing terrorist threat, travelers in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities and to remain vigilant when visiting sites deemed particularly likely to be targeted in an attack (public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, etc.). As a reminder, several Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.