Karni crossing
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The Karni Crossing is a cargo terminal on the Israeli Gaza Strip barrier. It is located in the eastern end of the Gaza Strip and was built in 1993 in order to allow Palestinian merchants to export and import goods. The Karni Crossing was also used by the residents of Netzarim since the Karni road was the only route to that isolated Israeli settlement on which Jewish travel was allowed.
During the ongoing al-Aqsa Intifada, the Karni terminal has been attacked several times by Palestinian militants in either mortar attacks or frontal infantry assaults, [1] forcing temporary shut-downs for repairs and enhancement of security procedures. Both Palestinians and Israelis have been killed in these attacks. Palestinian militants are alleged to have also used to the Karni terminal to smuggle suicide bombers and explosive belts into Israel, the most notable successful attack being in the Ashdod seaport bombing, during which 10 people were killed by two Palestinian suicide bombers who hid behind a false panel in a shipping container. [2]
The Karni Crossing is now used for 'back-to-back' transfer in which merchandise and produce for the Israeli market or for export overseas is removed from a Palestinian truck and placed in an Israeli truck, or vice versa for incoming goods.
