As-Siafa
{{Infobox settlement
| name = As-Siafa
| coordinates = {{coord|31|35|11|N|34|29|34|E|display=inline,title}}
| native_name =
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| population_as_of = 2005
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_total = 190
| pushpin_map = Palestine
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = Palestine
| subdivision_name1 = North Gaza Governorate
| subdivision_type1 = Governorates of Palestine
| translit_lang1 =
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}}
As-Siafa, also known as Siafa, is a village in the North Gaza Governorate of the Gaza Strip. It is also the location of a border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip. It is located to the northwest of Beit Lahia and to the south of Zikim.{{Cite web |last=Rights |first=Al Mezan Center for Human |title=Limited IOF Incursion north the As-Siafa area in Beit Lahiya |url=https://mezan.org/en/post/38722/Limited-IOF-Incursion-north-the-As-Siafa-area-in-Beit-Lahiya |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Al Mezan Center for Human Rights |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Israel to open new north Gaza crossing for overseas, Jordanian aid |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-open-new-north-gaza-crossing-overseas-jordanian-aid-2024-04-10/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240424173714/https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-open-new-north-gaza-crossing-overseas-jordanian-aid-2024-04-10/ |archive-date=2024-04-24 |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}} The village is strategically located as it is the northernmost settlement of the Gaza Strip and has been the theater of multiple events during the Gaza war. The population of As-Siafa was 190 as of 2005 according to the United Nations.{{Cite web |title=Gaza Strip: Access Report (February 2005) - OCHA report |url=https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-197356/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Question of Palestine |language=en-US}}
History
=2005-2009=
190 Palestinians lived in As-Siafa within the northern Israeli settlement block in February 2005. 389 Israelis lived in Elei Sinai, an Israeli settlement that overlapped with what is today's As-Siafa. The last of the settlers were evacuated on 21 August 2005 as part of the Israeli disengagement from the Gaza Strip.{{Cite news |date=2005-08-21 |title=At-a-glance: Gaza pullout |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4159354.stm |access-date=2025-04-13 |language=en-GB}}
=Gaza War=
On 26 October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces entered the village with military vehicles.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Bellingcat Investigation |date=2023-10-31 |title=Confirming a Strike on Jabalia Refugee Camp as Israeli Forces Approach Gaza City |url=https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2023/10/31/confirming-a-strike-on-jabalia-refugee-camp-as-israeli-forces-approach-gaza-city/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=bellingcat |language=en-GB}} On 10 April 2024, the Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant announced a plan to open a new land crossing by As-Siafa to allow aid to flow from overseas, notably from Jordan.{{Cite web |title=Gallant says Israel plans to ‘flood Gaza with aid’ via new crossing into Strip’s north |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/gallant-says-israel-plans-to-flood-gaza-with-aid-with-new-crossing-into-strips-north/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}} On 12 May 2024, the crossing, then dubbed the western Erez crossing, was officially opened.{{Cite web |last=hhanes |date=2024-05-13 |title=Israel Opens Another Crossing for Aid to Enter Northern Gaza |url=https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op_eds/2024/05/13/israel-opens-another-crossing-for-aid-to-enter-northern-gaza/ |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=FDD |language=en}} The crossing was closed on 2 August 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-26 |title=NGOs call for a humanitarian reset in Gaza: An NGO submission under NSM20 - occupied Palestinian territory {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/ngos-call-humanitarian-reset-gaza-ngo-submission-under-nsm20 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}} In November 2024, the crossing was considered "Open for pre-approved goods and/or people". By then, it was dubbed the As-Siafa/Zikim crossing.{{Cite web |title=Population and internal displacement since 7 October 2023 |url=https://www.ochaopt.org/sites/default/files/Gaza_Displacement_population_Nov_2024.pdf}}