Rafah Border Crossing

Tear gas canisters falling amidst Palestinian protesters during clashes with Israeli forces across the border fence, east of Gaza City, January 18, 2019. (SAID KHATIB / AFP)

January 18, 2019, 11:37 pm

IDF says Hamas member arrested after crossing into Israel from Gaza

Man immediately apprehended; Palestinians throw rocks, fire bombs and grenades at Israeli troops during weekly protest, IDF responds with tear gas, live fire

By TOI staff

A Palestinian protester uses a slingshot to throw tear gas toward Israeli forces during a demonstration along the Israeli fence east of Gaza City on January 18, 2019. (SAID KHATIB / AFP)

January 18, 2019, 6:10 pm

10,000 riot along Gaza border; IDF said to respond with tear gas, live fire

Palestinians throw rocks, fire bombs and hand grenades at Israeli troops; Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says 19 wounded

By TOI staff

This picture taken on January 11, 2019 shows a view of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces across the Gaza-Israel border fence. (Mahmud Hams/AFP)

January 12, 2019, 6:11 am

After mass riots on Gaza border, US envoy says Hamas ‘putting lives at risk’

Following death of Palestinian woman amid violent protests, Jason Greenblatt says terror group making ‘cynical use of Gaza’s citizens’ and driving the Strip backward

By TOI staff

Palestinians climb on the Gaza border fence during riots on Friday January, 11, 2019 (Screencapture/Hadashot news)

January 11, 2019, 4:08 pm

Palestinian woman said killed as 13,000 riot at Gaza fence; IAF hits Hamas posts

Egypt tries to soothe tensions as Strip’s terrorist rulers step up threats of attacks, calling for Israel to let in Qatari cash and for Cairo to reopen Rafah crossing

By Judah Ari Gross

Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas stand guard at the Rafah border crossing, in the Southern Gaza Strip on January 8, 2019. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

January 11, 2019, 2:15 am

Hamas says Egypt will reopen Gaza border crossing, as pressure builds

Unclear when Rafah terminal, closed since terror group’s members took over for PA, will reopen and no official word from Cairo; Israel said to have pushed for move as release valve

By AFP and TOI staff

Palestinians sit waiting at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the southern Gaza Strip, on January 8, 2019. (SAID KHATIB / AFP)

January 10, 2019, 10:40 am

Israel said urging Egypt to reopen Gaza crossing over fears of fresh violence

Qatari daily says defense officials in Jerusalem concerned ‘squeezing’ Hamas too much will shatter relative calm in Palestinian enclave

By TOI staff

Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior Palestinian official, in his office in northern Ramallah on December 4, 2018. (Adam Rasgon/Times of Israel)

January 8, 2019, 2:10 pm

Fatah official vows more extreme measures to end Hamas’s rule in Gaza

Azzam al-Ahmad says PA considering cuts to funding for water and education in Strip; Hamas official calls comments a ‘declaration of war’

By Adam Rasgon

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (left) and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh (Flash90, SAID KHATIB/AFP)

January 8, 2019, 12:39 pm

When Hamas and Fatah fight, the ricochets are likely to end up hitting Israel

Relations between Palestinian factions are again threatening to explode, after the PA abandoned the Rafah crossing, leading to its closure

By Avi Issacharoff

Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas stand guard at the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, on January 7, 2019. (Said Khatib/AFP)

January 7, 2019, 11:38 pm

Egypt bars entry from Gaza after PA troops leave crossing, Hamas takes over

Cairo informs Strip’s terror leaders it will only allow travelers into the territory, after forces loyal to Abbas withdraw, citing mistreatment

By Agencies and TOI staff

Palestinian security forces loyal to Hamas (R) stand guard outside the Rafah border crossing with Egypt just minutes before the Palestinian Authority withdraws its staff (L) from the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on January 7, 2019. (SAID KHATIB / AFP)

January 7, 2019, 5:00 pm

Hamas reclaims Egypt-Gaza border crossing as PA withdraws

Palestinian Authority pulls civil affairs authority staff after accusing terror group controlling Strip of ‘summoning, arresting and abusing our employees’

By Agencies and TOI staff

Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt through the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on August 16, 2017. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

January 6, 2019, 9:45 pm

PA to stop operating Gaza-Egypt crossing over spat with Hamas

Ramallah government demands release of hundreds of Fatah members it says were arrested by terror group in coastal enclave

By TOI staff and Agencies

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh delivering a speech in Gaza City, on January 23, 2018. (AFP Photo/Mahmud Hams)

November 20, 2018, 2:13 pm

Iranian cleric: Egypt wants to block Haniyeh from attending event in Tehran

Mohsen Araki, who serves in the Iranian Assembly of Experts, says Cairo unlikely to allow Hamas chief to travel to Iran for International Islamic Unity Conference

By Adam Rasgon

Palestinians wait to travel to Egypt through the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip, on September 26, 2018. (Said Khatib/AFP)

October 21, 2018, 9:27 am

Gazans at Egypt border seek to escape blockade

Since May, some 200 Gazans a day have left the beleaguered, Hamas-run enclave; many of them have no plans to return

By Clothilde Mraffko

Trucks are seen at the gate of the Kerem Shalom crossing, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza, in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, on July 17, 2018. (AFP PHOTO / SAID KHATIB)

July 17, 2018, 8:41 pm

Rights groups urge halt to ‘collective punishment’ at Gaza goods crossing

12 organizations call on Israel to resume regular operations at Kerem Shalom, labeling the recent restrictions, imposed after rocket barrage, ‘dangerous, irresponsible’

By TOI staff

Palestinian security forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority stand at the gate of the Kerem Shalom crossing, the main passage point for goods entering Gaza, in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, on July 9, 2018.(AFP PHOTO / SAID KHATIB)

July 17, 2018, 1:30 am

Hamas warns Israel of ‘dangerous consequences’ over Gaza crossing closure

Terror group’s threat comes as Egypt also shutters Rafah crossing on Tuesday in both directions without explanation

By TOI staff and Adam Rasgon