Erez Crossing

The Erez Crossing is a border crossing situated at the very northern tip of the Gaza Strip. Controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), up until the October 7th Massacre it was the only entry point for Palestinians passing from Gaza into Israel, either for the purposes of work or medical treatment.

In Hebrew the word ‘Erez’ means ‘cedar tree’ and just 1 km away sits a kibbutz with the same name, founded in 1949 on sand dunes close to the Gaza Strip.

Plan Your Visit

Location: Western Negev
Opening Times: As part of a guided tour
Prices: Enquire with our office for the exact cost.
Average Visit Duration: 1 hour
Tours: Gaza Envelope Tours are available; however, such visits must be arranged beforehand with a licensed company such as ourselves

Hamas Attack Close to the Erez Crossing on October 7th 2023

On October 7th 2003, approximately three thousands Hamas militants breached the Israel-Gaza wall, at various sections, many of them close to the Erez crossing.

Close to the Erez crossing, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) had a communications and surveillance hub close to the crossing, complete with hi-tech scanners, cameras and drones. That particular morning, using a host of tactics, including the disabling of a tank by a munition dropped by a drone and bulldozing holes in the concrete barrier, the militants quickly breached the security barrier and flooded across the Israel-Gaza border.

They then fanned out in a number of directions, armed with weapons and maps, towards the city of Sderot and a number of nearby kibbutzim including Erez.

It was the bravery of individuals who belonged to an Emergency Response Squad that meant Kibbutz Erez was not infiltrated. Early that morning, the squad had spotted Hamas members in the area and a huge gun battle ensued. In the fallout, one of the squad was killed and four others injured. However, it is certain that their heroism that day saved the lives of many others.

Places To Visit In and Around the Erez Crossing

Kibbutzim Kfar Aza, Nir Oz and Be’eri - These kibbutzim were all hard hit on October 7th, the last of which is considered to be Israel’s ‘Ground Zero’ on that day. The evidence can still be seen on tours of these communities, where houses are burned out and the sidestreets and green areas are now in ruins.
Re’im Forest, site of the Nova Music Festival Massacre - On October 7th, Hamas terrorists attacked this site where a Peace Festival was taking place. By the end of the day, approximately 364 people (most of them very young) were dead. Since then, memorials for the victims have been established here and it is possible to visit them.
Sderot - The largest city in the area, and home to 30,000 residents, Sderot was heavily affected by the events on October 7th, On a visit, it is possible to see bomb shelters into which grenades were thrown by terrorists, rockets that have since been repurposed (and in some cases even turned into art works) and the police station, which came under heavy attack and in which more than 30 Israelis were trapped inside and killed.
Netivot - A collection of crushed and burned out vehicles sits in Netivot, clear and compelling evidence of the brutality of the October 7th attack.
Kobi Hill - From this vantage point, it is possible to see over the Gaza Strip.
Nahal Oz Military Base - Close to Kibbutz Nahal Oz, this Israeli military base was overrun on October 7th, and 66 people lost their lives here. Whilst it is not possible to enter, you can see the base from the outside.
Roadside rest stations - These spots offer soldiers in the Israeli Defence Forces a break from the daily difficulties of combat, and also help out by providing them with free meals, showers, and laundry services. They are an excellent place to meet members of the IDF and talk with them openly about what their lives in uniform are really like.