A commercial crossing between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, about 20 kilometers west of the Hebron Governorate, and is run by the Israeli occupation authorities. It officially began operating in 2007, and trucks transporting goods pass through it, as do Palestinians.
It witnessed many incidents, including the shooting of a bus carrying Palestinian workers, and settlers attacking trucks carrying humanitarian aid transported through it.
It also witnessed fedayeen operations and resistance actions against the occupation, the last of which was a shooting in early September 2024 in which 3 Israeli policemen were killed.
the site
Tarqumiya crossing is located west of Hebron Governorate, south of the West Bank, about 20 kilometers away, and is considered one of the largest crossings separating Hebron and Beersheba.
The crossing, which was opened in early October 2007, allows trucks carrying goods to pass, especially through the Israeli port of Ashdod, but Palestinians are prevented from crossing in vehicles except in special cases.
Crossing management
The crossing, which includes a military checkpoint, is run by the Israeli Land Crossings Authority and the Sheleg Lavan security company, monitoring the daily passage of approximately 10,000 Palestinian workers arriving from all over the southern West Bank and subject to inspection.
The crossing witnesses overcrowding at the checkpoint and jostling, which results in frequent accidents. Palestinian traders also face obstacles and problems due to delays at the crossing.
Importance of the crossing
The crossing is used to export and import goods between the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Israel. It allows the passage of thousands of Palestinian people and workers on a daily basis, and it has been proposed that the crossing be a safe passage to Israel, by digging an underground tunnel linking the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Events witnessed by the crossing
During the checkpoint’s operation in 1998, Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint opened fire on a bus carrying Palestinian workers, killing 3 men.
The crossing was also a passage for transporting prisoners released from Israeli occupation prisons.
Following Operation “Noah’s Flood” on October 7, 2023, settlers at the Tarqumiya crossing attacked trucks carrying humanitarian aid, setting them on fire, destroying their contents, blocking their way and preventing them from heading to the Gaza Strip.
The crossing witnessed a shooting incident on September 1, 2024 by Palestinian gunmen, which led to the killing of 3 occupation police officers.