Highway 10 (Israel)

Highway 10 follows the Israel–Egypt border fence for almost its entire length, running north to south through one of the most isolated stretches of Israeli territory.[3] Its northern terminus is near Kerem Shalom at the southeastern edge of the Gaza Strip, and its southern end meets Highway 12 at Sayarim Junction, roughly 70 kilometers north of Eilat.[1][2]

The road is old, narrow, and winding, with steep ascents and descents through the Negev Highlands.[4] Sections are patched or uneven, and in places two vehicles meeting must negotiate passing with one partly on the shoulder.[4] There are no gas stations or other services along the route, and some stretches have little or no mobile phone reception.[1][4] Travelers who are permitted access are advised to carry a full tank of fuel along with food and water, and vehicles with high ground clearance are recommended.[1]

From the road, Egyptian border posts are visible at roughly one-kilometer intervals on the Sinai side, while Israeli lookout positions are described as more discreet and less frequent.[1] The Sinai landscape visible across the fence has been characterized as stark and otherworldly, contrasting with the Negev's arid sandstone terrain and occasional desert vegetation on the Israeli side.[1]

Highway 10 was paved following Israel's peace agreement with Egypt and its withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula, though published accounts differ on the precise timing: one dates its construction to the early 1980s, while another places it in the late 1980s after the final withdrawal from Sinai.[2][5]

The border fence that the highway runs alongside was a separate, later undertaking. Construction of the continuous barrier was a three-year project completed in 2013, nearly three decades after the Egypt–Israel peace treaty was signed.[1] Israel regarded the barrier as essential for reducing terrorist threats, halting the flow of migrants and asylum-seekers crossing from Africa, and curbing human trafficking and drug smuggling across the desert border.[1] Following its completion, the security situation along the route changed significantly.[1]

For most of the year, Highway 10 is closed to unsupervised civilian traffic and used primarily by security forces.[1][6] The northern section, from the Gaza area to the Nitzana opening, is closed to civilian traffic.[7] The southern section was previously accessible but was also closed following a terrorist attack in the border region in the summer of 2011.[7]

In August 2012, a proposed security zone extending 300 meters from the Egyptian border was reported to be under consideration, which would have placed the road off-limits to civilians except by special permission from the sector's military commander.[8] That proposed order had received approval from the Attorney General and was awaiting final sign-off through IDF channels.[8] The road had already been closed for much of the preceding twelve months following the 2011 attack.[8] In July 2012, a bus carrying IDF soldiers came under terrorist fire near Mount Sagi; no injuries were reported, although the bus was damaged.[9]

When the road opens to civilians, access is tightly controlled. During a temporary opening in April 2021, soldiers checked identification documents, counted every entering car and its passengers, and required all vehicles to exit before nightfall.[1] In 2021, the IDF announced a trial program allowing hikers onto the road once a month, running from the Hamuqe Nitzana area via Mount Harif to Mount Karkom between 08:00 and 17:00, in response to public requests and subject to ongoing security assessments.[6] In previous years, openings had generally been limited to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot, when security conditions permitted.[6]

During a 2017 holiday opening, for example, the accessible section ran from Ezuz via Mount Karkom to the Highway 10–Highway 12 junction, open daily from 07:30 to 18:00 between October 5 and October 12, subject to an IDF security assessment.[5] A military officer explained that the route's length and proximity to the border fence require a major security effort, with troops reinforced during authorized openings.[3] Visitors are prohibited from leaving the road toward the border system and must not approach or touch the fence.[2]

Despite its restricted status, Highway 10 provides access to significant natural and archaeological landmarks in the southern Negev. The route passes through the Nitzana area and near Mount Harif and Mount Sagi, while nearby destinations include Mount Karkom and the ancient water pits known as Borot Lotz.[3]

A popular touring stretch runs from the Kadesh Barnea and Ezuz area to Borot Lotz, spanning approximately 70 kilometers.[3] Highway 171 connects the Mount Harif area with Borot Lotz and Mitzpe Ramon, offering a route back to more accessible parts of the Negev.[3] A security report concerning one closure said tourists and day-trippers were barred from 20 sites along the border.[10]

Published accounts differ on several details about Highway 10. The road's length is given as approximately 182 kilometers by one source and approximately 160 kilometers by another; the sources do not explain the discrepancy.[1][8]

Accounts of the 2011 terrorist attack also differ. Ynetnews described an Islamic Jihad attack on a bus traveling on Highway 10, while a 2017 report stated that the deadly attack occurred on Highway 12 and that Highway 10 was subsequently closed by order of the area commander.[9][5] The reported Israeli death toll varies as well: one source gives eight killed, while another gives nine.[8][9]

The date of the road's original paving is likewise reported as either the early or the late 1980s following Israel's withdrawal from Sinai.[2][5]