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Erez Crossing

In 2007, we stood on the Israeli side of the Erez crossing , where we tried and failed to get into the Gaza Strip. Inside, a Palestinian civil war was taking place, pitting political and philosophical rivals Hamas and Fatah against each other. After a succession of assassinations, kidnappings and street battles, Hamas took complete control of Gaza, and for the first time in its history, had to figure out how to run a government. In 2011, when the post-Mubarak government of Egypt decided to start letting small numbers of folks into Gaza through their Rafah crossing, we knew it was our chance to finally get a rare glimpse of the embattled Gaza Strip and to see what life was like under the rule of Hamas.

Latest Stories

February: Rafah crossing opens againupdated: Thu May 26 2011 07:56:00

In February, the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza briefly re-opened. CNN's Kevin Flower reports.

Police: Truck hits cars, pedestrians in Tel Aviv, kills 1updated: Sun May 15 2011 08:09:00

One man was killed and 16 others injured Sunday when a truck plowed into vehicles and pedestrians on a busy Tel Aviv road, authorities said.

Shepherd killed by Israeli soldiers, Palestinian medical officials sayupdated: Fri Dec 24 2010 06:59:00

Israeli soldiers shot and killed a 22-year-old shepherd near the Erez crossing point in Gaza on Thursday, according to Palestinian medical officials.

Gaza-Israeli tensions escalateupdated: Fri Dec 24 2010 06:59:00

The U.N. is expressing concern of growing violence along the Israeli-Gaza border. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.

Sources: Explosive kills 2 teens in Gazaupdated: Fri Dec 10 2010 07:58:00

Two 16-year-old Palestinian boys were killed and three other teens were injured in Gaza on Friday from an unexploded Israeli ordnance, Palestinian medical and security officials said.

Video of kidnapped soldier airs as Israel frees Palestinian prisonersupdated: Fri Oct 02 2009 11:31:00

A "proof-of-life" video of an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinian militants more than two years ago was made public Friday, after its delivery led to the release of Palestinian women prisoners.

Show celebrates martyr momupdated: Thu Jul 16 2009 07:06:00

A kids TV show recreates a woman's suicide bomb mission that killed four Israelis. CNN's Paula Hancocks reports.

Israel frees hundreds of Palestinian prisonersupdated: Mon Dec 15 2008 07:52:00

Israel released 227 Palestinian prisoners Monday in a long-debated good-will gesture to the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

Group accuses Israel of pushing ill Palestinians to spyupdated: Mon Aug 04 2008 15:14:00

Israeli agents have been pressuring sick Palestinians to become informants in exchange for permission to leave Gaza for medical care, a human rights group said Monday.

Israel closes Gaza crossingsupdated: Sun Jun 29 2008 08:40:00

Israel has closed crossings between Israel and Gaza except for Erez crossing on Gaza's northern border, a military source said Wednesday.

Gaza crossings rocked by gunbattle, suicide blastupdated: Thu May 22 2008 13:09:00

Two suicide bombers died when their explosives-laden truck detonated Thursday near a border crossing in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said.

Time.com: Israelis Blocking Medical Care in Gazaupdated: Tue Mar 25 2008 17:00:00

Is Israeli intelligence using medical care to recruit collaborators in Gaza? Shin Bet denies it but activists claim to have many incidents on record

Palestinian president rips Hamas' 'bloody coup'updated: Wed Jun 20 2007 08:21:00

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday denounced Hamas leaders as "traitors," blaming them for planning their "bloody coup" in Gaza while participating in a unity government.

Israel prepares to turn over 2 citiesupdated: Tue Mar 08 2005 17:51:00

The West Bank cities of Jericho and Tulkarem will be transferred from Israeli to Palestinian control "in the coming days," Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said Tuesday night after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

U.N. may suspend Gaza operationsupdated: Sun Mar 28 2004 04:00:00

The United Nations may be compelled to cease several critical operations in Gaza beginning Monday as a result of new movement restrictions imposed by Israel.

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