Israel’s Bold Move: Kerem Shalom Expands for Palestinian Migration and Aid Surge
Israel is expanding the Kerem Shalom Crossing to streamline humanitarian aid from Egypt, facilitate medical evacuations, and prepare for voluntary Palestinian migration. The initiative, part of broader wartime objectives, includes new infrastructure to enhance security and logistics, with completion expected by October 2025.
Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced an expansion of the Kerem Shalom Crossing, located at the tri-border junction of Israel, Gaza, and Egypt, to support voluntary mass migration of Palestinians to countries worldwide, enhance security screenings for humanitarian aid from Egypt, allow entry of delegations into Gaza, and facilitate medical evacuations for treatment abroad. The expansion, documented by a Walla reporter, aims to adapt the crossing to meet these multifaceted objectives amid ongoing conflict and heightened ceasefire talks with Hamas. The ministry stated, “As part of efforts to achieve the war’s objectives, construction work has been underway at Kerem Shalom Crossing in recent months to adapt it to required needs, including the entry of delegations and humanitarian aid. To this end, canopies for entry control from Egypt and Israel, facilities for screening individuals and luggage, and areas for organizing humanitarian aid have been added. The project began in April 2024 and is expected to be completed in approximately three months.”
Since the Rafah Crossing’s closure at the war’s onset in October 2023, following its destruction by the IDF due to Hamas’s use for terrorist activities, Kerem Shalom and the Zikim area in northern Gaza have become primary conduits for aid, subjected to rigorous security checks. Pressure from Hamas’s starvation campaign prompted Israel to allow increased aid from Egypt, funded by Egypt and the UAE, including airdrops. The expansion addresses these demands while preparing for potential migration, aligning with Israel’s broader security strategy. Social media on X highlighted the move, with one user noting, “Kerem Shalom’s upgrade is a game-changer for Gaza’s aid and migration dynamics.” The project, costing an estimated 50 million shekels, reinforces Israel’s control over Gaza’s border crossings, amid international calls for improved humanitarian access.