Rafah Crossing

Source: This post is based on the article “Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt partially opens”:what is the crossing and why it is significant”published in the “Indian express” on 2nd November 2023.

Why in news?

The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has opened for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in early October.

What is rafah border crossing?

(1) Southern Most Post of Exit- It’s the southernmost post of exit from Gaza and borders Egypt’s Sinai peninsula.

(2) Two other Border Crossings from and into the Gaza Strip-
(1) Erez- Northern Gaza into Israel. For people crossing only.
(2) Kerem Shalom- Southern Gaza into Israel. For commercial goods crossing only.

Agreement on movement and access
EUBAM(Europian union border assistance mission)- EUBAM(Europian union border assistance mission) was responsible for monitoring the Border Crossing, under the Agreed Principles for Rafah Crossing, part of the Agreement on movement and access (AMA) of 15 November 2005. The agreement ensured Israel authority to dispute entrance by any person.

What is its significance?

(1) The Rafah crossing gained heightened importance after Hamas’s assault on the Erez crossing, resulting in over 1,300 casualties in southern Israel.
(2) In response, Israel closed both Erez and Kerem Shalom indefinitely, leaving the Rafah border as the sole means of entry and exit for Gaza’s people and the only crossing for humanitarian aid.

Upsc syllabus- GS 2- International relations