As-Siafa

As-Siafa, also known as Siafa, is a village in the North Gaza Governorate of the Gaza Strip. It is also the location of a border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip. It is located to the northwest of Beit Lahia and to the south of Zikim.[1][2] The village is strategically located as it is the northernmost settlement of the Gaza Strip and has been the theater of multiple events during the Gaza war. The population of As-Siafa was 190 as of 2005 according to the United Nations.[3]

History

2005-2009

190 Palestinians lived in As-Siafa within the northern Israeli settlement block in February 2005.[3] 389 Israelis lived in Elei Sinai, an Israeli settlement that overlapped with what is today's As-Siafa. The last of the settlers were evacuated on 21 August 2005 as part of the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip.[4]

Gaza War

On 26 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces entered the village with military vehicles.[5] On 10 April 2024, the Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant announced a plan to open a new land crossing by As-Siafa to allow aid to flow from overseas, notably from Jordan.[6] On 12 May 2024, the crossing, then dubbed the western Erez crossing, was officially opened.[7] The crossing was closed on 2 August 2024.[8] In November 2024, the crossing was considered "Open for pre-approved goods and/or people". By then, it was dubbed the As-Siafa/Zikim crossing.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rights, Al Mezan Center for Human. "Limited IOF Incursion north the As-Siafa area in Beit Lahiya". Al Mezan Center for Human Rights. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  2. ^ "Israel to open new north Gaza crossing for overseas, Jordanian aid". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2024-04-24. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  3. ^ a b "Gaza Strip: Access Report (February 2005) - OCHA report". Question of Palestine. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  4. ^ "At-a-glance: Gaza pullout". 2005-08-21. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  5. ^ Team, Bellingcat Investigation (2023-10-31). "Confirming a Strike on Jabalia Refugee Camp as Israeli Forces Approach Gaza City". bellingcat. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  6. ^ "Gallant says Israel plans to 'flood Gaza with aid' via new crossing into Strip's north". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  7. ^ hhanes (2024-05-13). "Israel Opens Another Crossing for Aid to Enter Northern Gaza". FDD. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
  8. ^ "NGOs call for a humanitarian reset in Gaza: An NGO submission under NSM20 - occupied Palestinian territory | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
  9. ^ "Population and internal displacement since 7 October 2023" (PDF).