What this system is
Since Zikim closed on 24 May 2026, Kerem Shalom has been Gaza's only working cargo crossing, so the Egypt, Jordan, Ashdod and Israel routes all end there. Israel inspects and approves, the UN counts its own consignments, and dual-use items are capped; 65% of the Strip's land is under access restrictions.
Convergence on one crossing turns every inspection decision, scanner fault and closed day into a Strip-wide supply event, and it means goods for northern Gaza now enter at the southern end. Week-to-week offloading varies sharply: OCHA reported Kerem Shalom offloading at 52% of planned truckloads in 14–20 September and 88% a week later, with the Ashdod route at 17% during a scanner problem and 94% the following week. Because the item rules are unpublished, what may enter is known mainly from what agencies report denied.
Confidence: Moderate As of 2026-10-08Reviewed 2026-10-12
The system
- Overview
- Goods reach Gaza by four corridors — from Egypt, from Jordan over the Allenby crossing, through Ashdod port (directly and via the Cyprus maritime corridor) and from Israel and the West Bank — and since Zikim closed on 24 May 2026 all of them end at Kerem Shalom, which OCHA and Gisha describe as the only operational cargo crossing. Rafah carries people only; Erez has not opened to goods; Kissufim's status is not established. Israel's COGAT and the Defence Ministry's Crossings Authority coordinate and inspect entry, and the 2026 item-by-item inspection rules are not published. The UN2720 mechanism tracks UN-manifested consignments by stage — clearance requests, offloaded or collected at the crossing, delivered, intercepted — and OCHA says the UN can confirm only the entry it tracks. Germany's defence ministry said on 21 August 2026 that the International Gaza Support Center, "formerly called CMCC", is based in Israel and coordinates aid alongside ceasefire monitoring and explosive-remnants clearance, and that it is lending two cargo scanners, one expected at Erez from September and one at Ashdod by end-2026. Commercial cargo moves alongside aid: the Gaza Chamber of Commerce, through the Cash Working Group and relayed by OCHA, counted 881 commercial truckloads in the week of 31 August–6 September, 853 in 14–20 September and 788 in 21–27 September. The Board of Peace's May 2026 report to the Security Council records a commitment of 4,200 trucks weekly covering humanitarian and commercial supply, fuel included.
- What depends on it
- Total for goods. Gaza has no port and no airport, and since 24 May 2026 no other working cargo gate, so the whole Strip's aid, commercial imports and fuel pass through one crossing. Redundancy exists only between the corridors that feed it, not at the point of entry.
- What disruption does
- Cargo arrives in Gaza at the rate one crossing, its inspection regime and its operating days allow. The Next Century Foundation's weekly index, citing Gaza's de facto Crossings and Borders Authority, recorded Kerem Shalom open five of seven days in 2–8 October; NRC reported that dual-use shelter items can be offloaded there only one day a week and that the shelter backlog would take more than seven months to clear. Inside the Strip, distribution is constrained by the 65% of land OCHA reported under access restrictions on 2 October 2026, much of it east of the Israeli military's "Yellow Line".
- Alternatives and redundancy
- Between corridors, yes; at the gate, no. A route that falters — the Egypt corridor offloaded 21% of its truckloads at Kerem Shalom in 14–20 September (OCHA) — can be offset only by other corridors arriving at the same crossing. A second working entry would require Zikim to reopen, Erez to open to goods, or Kissufim to be used for cargo; none was in place in early October 2026.
Nodes
In the order this record authors them — an authored sequence, not a route.
Israel's southern Mediterranean cargo port area, the nearest major port to the Gaza Strip. It includes the Ashdod Port Company's port and the private Southport terminal run by TIL, part of the MSC group. The Ashdod Port Company reported revenue of NIS 657 million in the first half of 2026, up 11%, and about 370,000 TEU of containers, up 2.6%, as reported. In January to May 2026 the Ashdod port area handled 8.56 million tonnes and Southport 3.26 million tonnes, on Ministry of Transport figures as relayed by the trade press.
In this systemThe sea route for UN cargo, directly and via the Cyprus maritime corridor; consignments travel on to Kerem Shalom. A second German scanner is due here by end-2026 (BMVg).
Why it mattersAshdod is both a node of Israel's trade and a stage in Gaza's aid supply: UN-pipeline consignments landed here travel on to Kerem Shalom, and OCHA tracks the Ashdod route separately — in one July 2026 week only 65% of its supplies were offloaded at the crossing. With Eilat dormant, Ashdod and Haifa carry almost all of Israel's seaborne trade.
What to watchCargo volumes by port area; the Ashdod route's share of UN2720-tracked consignments into Gaza; operations during escalations.
Port Confidence: Moderate As of 2026-07 Show on the map →
The Jordan River crossing between the West Bank and Jordan, and the West Bank's main gateway abroad for Palestinians; Israel controls the West Bank side. It was closed after a shooting on 8 September 2024. After a Jordanian truck driver killed two Israeli soldiers there on 18 September 2025, Israel closed it again; passenger traffic resumed within days, and goods and aid traffic reopened around 10 December 2025 with a new dedicated security force.
In this systemThe Jordan corridor's crossing from Jordan; its cargo reaches Gaza through Kerem Shalom. NRC reported a cap of 15 trucks a week of dual-use items from Jordan across all humanitarian sectors (5 October 2026).
Why it mattersThe crossing is the West Bank's link to Jordan for people, trade and aid destined for Gaza, so every closure is felt at once in Palestinian movement and commerce. Its hours and closures are set on the Israeli side and are not logged in any official published series.
What to watchClosures and changes to operating hours, for passengers and goods separately; the Jordan aid corridor into Gaza; Israeli and Jordanian statements after any security incident.
Border crossing Confidence: Moderate As of 2026-07 Show on the map →
The crossing at the junction of the Gaza Strip, Israel and Egypt through which goods enter Gaza. Since 24 May 2026, when Zikim closed, it has been the only cargo entry into the Strip, according to OCHA and Gisha. Israel closed all Gaza crossings on 28 February 2026, at the start of the war with Iran, and reopened Kerem Shalom gradually from 3 March.
In this systemThe only operational cargo crossing since 24 May 2026 (OCHA, Gisha), where every corridor converges; Israeli inspection is carried out here.
Why it mattersKerem Shalom is where Gaza's access regime is measured, and an operating crossing is not the same thing as aid arriving. In mid-March 2026 the UN reported near-total denial of its movements while the crossing operated; in one July 2026 week OCHA recorded that only 42% of supplies on the Egypt route and 65% on the Ashdod route were offloaded. Israel's COGAT and the UN count different things — COGAT counts all trucks and, according to Gisha, has counted 12 pallets as one truck since early 2026 — so every volume figure carries its publisher's definition.
What to watchDated changes in operating status; UN2720 offload and collection figures for UN-pipeline consignments; OCHA counts of denied and impeded movements; any second cargo entry reopening.
Border crossing Confidence: Moderate As of 2026-10 Show on the map →
A crossing on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip, near the coast, used for goods into the north of the Strip. It closed with all Gaza crossings on 28 February 2026, reopened on 13 April after more than 40 days, and closed again on 24 May 2026 "until further notice", according to OCHA. Gisha recorded it still closed on 8 October 2026.
In this systemThe northern goods gate, closed since 24 May 2026 "until further notice" (OCHA); no Israeli statement of the reason was found.
Why it mattersWith Zikim closed, goods for northern Gaza, Gaza City included, enter through Kerem Shalom at the Strip's southern end. The crossing's state is therefore a direct reading of how supply reaches the north.
What to watchAny reopening announcement and its stated conditions; OCHA reporting on supplies reaching northern Gaza.
Border crossing Confidence: High As of 2026-10 Show on the map →
A crossing on the eastern edge of the central Gaza Strip, used during the war as an aid and military route. A weekly snapshot of 18 September 2026 compiled by the Next Century Foundation recorded it closed; no OCHA or COGAT statement confirming its state was found. Since 24 May 2026 OCHA has called Kerem Shalom the only available crossing for approved cargo; it has not stated Kissufim's own status.
In this systemUsed intermittently after the October 2025 ceasefire (OCHA); its 2026 status is not established, and OCHA's "only available crossing" wording is not a closure statement.
Why it mattersIt is one of the crossings the Gaza access picture is read across, and its state is the least well documented of them.
What to watchAn OCHA or COGAT statement of its current state; any use as an aid entry.
Border crossing Confidence: Low As of 2026-09 Show on the map →
The crossing at the northern end of the Gaza Strip, historically the passage for people between Gaza and Israel. A goods terminal has been proposed there. Germany's defence ministry announced on 21 August 2026 the loan of two cargo scanners, one of them expected at Erez from September 2026; Gisha, citing the German ambassador, reported a scanner installed. Israel's deputy UN ambassador gave 1 September as a target date, after which the Prime Minister's Office said no decision had been made (Ynet). Israeli leaders have said there will be no rebuilding before disarmament, and Gisha recorded the terminal still unopened on 8 October 2026.
In this systemProposed goods terminal; a scanner was expected from September 2026 (BMVg) and a 1 September target was announced, but it had not opened by 8 October (Gisha).
Why it mattersWhether Erez opens is a direct reading of the link Israel draws between access and disarmament, which is also the sequencing dispute at the centre of the Board of Peace's July 2026 roadmap.
What to watchA decision to open the terminal and the conditions attached; Israeli statements tying the opening to disarmament.
Border crossing Confidence: Moderate As of 2026-10 Show on the map →
The Gaza Strip's crossing with Egypt, used for people. Israeli forces took it in May 2024. It reopened for people on 2 February 2026 with the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM Rafah) redeployed, closed on 28 February when the war with Iran began, and has opened intermittently since. EUBAM recorded 11,684 crossings between 2 February and 5 September 2026: 5,977 exits, including 2,224 patients, and 5,707 entries.
In this systemPassengers only, with EUBAM; Egypt-route goods are routed to Kerem Shalom rather than through Rafah.
Why it mattersRafah is the Strip's only exit that does not pass through Israel, and the route for medical evacuation. Its opening depends on Israeli and Egyptian scheduling that is not systematically published, and it carries people only — goods enter through Kerem Shalom. It also sits on the border strip governed by the 1979 Egypt–Israel treaty's security annex and the 2005 Agreed Arrangements.
What to watchDays open per week; EUBAM's cumulative counts; any opening to goods; Egyptian or Israeli statements about the border arrangements under the 1979 treaty.
Border crossing Confidence: Moderate As of 2026-09 Show on the map →
The Gaza Strip's largest city and its administrative centre before the war. The IPC confirmed famine (Phase 5) in Gaza Governorate on 22 August 2025, the first famine classification in the Middle East — a finding Israel contested on methodology. The IPC's December 2025 analysis found no area of the Strip in famine, and its July 2026 projection placed all five governorates in Crisis (Phase 3).
In this systemThe north's main city, supplied from the southern crossing since Zikim closed.
Why it mattersUnder the October 2025 ceasefire Israeli forces pulled back to a line their military calls the "Yellow Line", and most of the city lies on its western side, as reported. The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza, formed in January 2026 to take over civil administration, was still based in Cairo and not governing inside Gaza as of October 2026, as reported. Supplies for the north depend on Zikim, closed since 24 May 2026.
What to watchIPC analyses for Gaza Governorate; whether the National Committee enters Gaza and takes over civil institutions; Zikim's reopening; debris clearance and reconstruction under the World Bank–EU–UN damage assessment.
Major city Confidence: Moderate As of 2026-10 Show on the map →
Zikim closed "until further notice", leaving Kerem Shalom the only operational cargo crossing (OCHA, 25 September and 2 October 2026; Gisha, 8 October 2026).
Israel rejected IOM shelter cargo at Kerem Shalom — about 37,000 pieces of timber and 660 shelter kits (OCHA, 11 September 2026).
Offloading at Kerem Shalom fell to 52% of planned truckloads; the Egypt corridor offloaded 21%, with no reason given for 72% of returns, and the Ashdod route 17% because of a scanner problem (OCHA, 25 September 2026).
A target date for opening the Erez goods terminal, given by Israel's deputy UN ambassador, passed after the Prime Minister's Office said no decision had been made (Ynet); Gisha recorded Erez unopened on 8 October.
Political implications
Israeli leaders tie the opening of further gates and rebuilding to disarmament, so the number of working crossings is also a reading of the sequencing dispute.
Economic implications
Commercial imports run through the same crossing as aid; private traders' truckloads are counted weekly by the Gaza Chamber of Commerce, a unit not comparable with COGAT's or the UN's.
Humanitarian implications
Aid volumes and distribution reach people through the conditions recorded in the module's humanitarian objects; this record covers the route, not the condition.
Actors with a stake
Transmission chains through this system
What remains unknown
- Gisha reports that COGAT stopped publishing goods-entry data after the October 2025 ceasefire and has counted 12 pallets as one truck; COGAT's "600 trucks a day" is known only as NGO-reported, and no dated COGAT statement for September–October 2026 was found.
- UN2720's monthly overviews run to August 2026 and carry their figures in images only; they are not extracted here.
- Whether Nitzana serves as a 2026 inspection point for the Egypt corridor is not established in any source read.
- The 2026 terms of the commercial-import mechanism (vetted merchants, monitored payment) are not published; reports that traders may import dual-use items aid agencies may not are unverified.
Readings the evidence also supports
- The convergence on Kerem Shalom can be read as a security choice to concentrate inspection at one point, or as the consequence of closures decided separately for each gate; no Israeli statement of the reason for Zikim's closure was found.
Listed because the record's own assessment is not the only one its sources permit — not as a hedge on the assessment above.
A second cargo entry operating (candidate)
OCHA ceasing to describe Kerem Shalom as the only operational cargo crossing — a reopened Zikim, an open Erez goods terminal or Kissufim in cargo use, confirmed by a dated OCHA or COGAT statement.
The dual-use cap from Jordan (candidate)
Any change to the 15-trucks-a-week cap on dual-use items NRC reported for the Jordan corridor, as stated by NRC, OCHA or COGAT.
Watch questions this system bears on
Standing analytical questions whose evidence runs through this system, each with its latest review. Derived from the Watch object, never restated here.
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Assessed as of — 2026-10-08 Last reviewed — 2026-10-12