Kerem Shalom border crossing

Pineapples stuffed with thousands of smuggled cigarettes intercepted by IDF at Gaza crossing

The cigarette-filled pineapples were transported in a truck carrying a shipment purchased by an Israeli company, intended to reach the Kerem Shalom Crossing as part of humanitarian aid.

|ByDANYA SAPERSTEIN
Pineapple filled with cigarettes intended to be smuggled across the border into Gaza.
President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog at a Kibbutz Kerem Shalom event marking 1,000 days since the October 7 attacks, July 2, 2026.

Herzog, first lady, visit Kibbutz Kerem Shalom on day 1,000 since October 7 massacre

"We will continue to plant, to build, to nurture life, and to choose hope. And so our answer is one and the same: to keep planting, building, nurturing life, and choosing hope,” Herzog said.

|ByLEO FEIERBERG BETTER
A truck carrying humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip drives at the inspection area at the Kerem Shalom crossing, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in southern Israel, March 14, 2024.

IDF major charged with aiding enemy, taking bribe in alleged Gaza smuggling scheme

The officer, whose identifying details are barred from publication, was charged with aiding the enemy, taking a bribe, aggravated smuggling, attempted aggravated smuggling, fraud, and breach of trust.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
A truck loaded with humanitarian aid waits to cross from the Egyptian side of Rafah en rounte to the Kerem Shalom crossing into the Gaza Strip on October 20, 2025.

IDF officer charged with aiding the enemy in Kerem Shalom smuggling case

An IDF lieutenant has been charged with smuggling goods into Gaza, using his military role to facilitate the operation in exchange for a bribe.

|ByJAMES GENN

Rafah: Act now or suffer the consequences - editorial

Hamas needs to know enough is enough; If Israel doesn't act now, it will appear weak and encourage future violence.

MAY 7, 2024ByJPOST EDITORIAL
SMOKE RISES following an Israeli strike in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, last week. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there is no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah, the writer notes.

The time for talks is over; it's time for actions - analysis

When Israel finishes dealing with Hamas, the interests of Israel and those of Hezbollah and Iran will likely align, for a short time, to postpone the wider fighting in the north.

MAY 5, 2024ByJACOB NAGEL
An IDF tank operates in the Gaza Strip. May 2, 2024.

Four soldiers killed in Hamas rocket barrage toward Kerem Shalom, aid crossing closed

The rockets were reportedly launched from the Rafah area. The Kerem Shalom crossing was closed after the attack.

MAY 5, 2024ByYONAH JEREMY BOB, JOANIE MARGULIES, TZVI JOFFRE
(From left-to-right) IDF soldiers Ruben Marc Mordechai Assouline, Ido Testa, Michael Ruzal, and Tal Shavit, who were killed in the Hamas rocket attack on the Kerem Shalom area. May 5, 2024

Israel shares photo of aid build-up in Gaza, says UN is not distributing it

The target of Israel's ire was UNRWA, the UN agency that Israel has called on nations to defund.

MARCH 31, 2024ByLEON KRAIEM
A photo shared by Israel's Coordinated Office of Government Activity in the Territories (COGAT), purporting to show humanitarian aid piled up, undistributed, on the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing.

UN chief calls for Israeli 'ironclad commitment' for free humanitarian aid access to Gaza

Katz denounces Guterres for failure to blame Hamas for plundering humanitarian assistance

MARCH 23, 2024ByEVE YOUNG
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks to the media during a visit to the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Lviv, Ukraine August 18, 2022.

Only more land crossings into Gaza can prevent famine, WHO claims

WHO chief Tedros warns Gaza famine risk due to war; urges expanded land crossings for aid. Israel offensive targets key hospital.

MARCH 21, 2024ByREUTERS
Logo of the World Health Organization.

Police facilitate humanitarian aid entry to Gaza as protesters continue to disrupt

The protests have occurred for several months. Early in February, dozens of protesters blocked the path of humanitarian aid trucks to Gaza also at the Kerem Shalom crossing.

FEBRUARY 24, 2024ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
People camp as they protest against the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and to demand the immediate release of hostages kidnapped during the October 7 massacre by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, at the Kerem Shalom crossing, Israel, February 7, 2024.

Israel to open another Gaza border crossing for humanitarian aid - report

The crossing has been closed since 2011.

FEBRUARY 21, 2024ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Palestinians walk beside a closed gate of the main commercial crossing of Karni linking the Gaza Strip and Israel, September 15, 2008.

Ben-Gvir takes shots at IDF chief in Israeli cabinet meeting

Ben-Gvir took aim at the military chief for the IDF's cooperation with Israel Police in foiling daily protests against the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

FEBRUARY 11, 2024ByANNA BARSKY, TAL SPUNGIN
(L-R) IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir

'No aid will pass': Protesters block trucks to Gaza at Kerem Shalom crossing

The protests continue as Israel explores new ways to provide humanitarian aid to Hamas instead of through UNRWA.

FEBRUARY 9, 2024ByMAARIV, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
People camp as they protest against the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and to demand the immediate release of hostages kidnapped during the October 7 massacre by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, at the Kerem Shalom crossing, Israel, February 7, 2024.