In a move designed to balance civilian life with national security amid ongoing regional threats, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced this week the reopening of several hiking trails in the north and sections of Route 10 in the south for public access during the Passover holiday. The decision, following a comprehensive operational assessment, highlights both Israel’s resilience in the face of terrorism and the persistent dangers posed by Iran-backed proxies on multiple fronts.
According to official IDF statements, a number of hiking trails in the northern region — closed to the public after the October 7, 2023, massacre and increased hostilities from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon — will now be accessible under strict guidelines. However, any routes crossing the northern border fence remain off-limits due to the ongoing risks of infiltration and attacks by terrorist groups. In the south, Route 10, a road running parallel to the Egyptian border and frequently targeted by Sinai-based militants and smugglers, will be open to civilians between Ezuz and Mount Harif on April 15 and 16, from 09:00 to 16:00 each day. These measures aim to maintain public safety while preserving the Israeli tradition of Passover nature excursions.
Israel has been under unprecedented security pressure since the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists—an event marked as the most severe single-day assault on Jews since the Holocaust. The attack, involving mass killings, abductions, and other war crimes perpetrated by Gaza-based terrorists, triggered a multi-front war that has continued to escalate. The Iranian regime, which orchestrates support for terror networks across the region, has mobilized proxies including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Islamic Jihad, and others in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. These groups have adopted a strategy of regional encirclement, confronting Israel with asymmetric threats along its borders and from within neighboring states.
In the north, Hezbollah has dramatically intensified its campaign against Israel through rocket and drone attacks, as well as attempted infiltrations. The IDF has responded with a combination of precision strikes, defensive deployments, and civilian evacuations in areas adjoining the Lebanese border. Restrictions on access to military zones have been a feature of life in the north for months, as Israel works to contain enemy action and forestall further terror incidents—especially during holidays when public movement increases and Israel’s enemies are known to seek high-profile targets.
Despite the partial reopening, military sources emphasize that risks remain acute. The IDF strongly prohibits unauthorized entrance to military zones or areas marked as closed. All movement within such locations requires prior coordination and approval, as violations not only endanger civilians but also disrupt ongoing military operations. In southern Israel, Route 10 has historically been a flashpoint for cross-border terrorism and illegal infiltration from Egypt’s Sinai—the latter a hotbed of jihadist activity largely suppressed, but never eradicated, by the Egyptian military. The Israeli army collaborates with regional partners and leverages substantial intelligence gathering to prevent attacks along this vulnerable stretch.
Civilian safety is further threatened by the possibility of encountering remnant explosive devices or munitions in previously contested military areas. The IDF has instructed the public to avoid contact with unfamiliar objects and to report suspected ordnance immediately to proper authorities, reinforcing the vital need for heightened awareness and compliance during this extraordinary period.
The backdrop to these security measures remains the broader ‘Iron Swords’ campaign, launched by Israel after October 7 to degrade Hamas’s capacity in Gaza and to deter Iran’s expanding influence. While attention has centered on Gaza, the scale of the threat is national and regional, with the axis of resistance led by Tehran aiming to destabilize Israel on all borders through proxies and asymmetric tactics.
The reopening of nature trails for Passover is both a morale boost and a practical test of civilian-military cooperation. Family hikes are a longstanding Israeli tradition during the festival, underlining national resilience in the shadow of war. The government’s strict protocols, published routes, security personnel deployment, and public information campaigns are intended to enable these activities without compromising either operational missions or public safety.
The Ministry of Defense, in concert with IDF Northern and Southern Commands, has committed to constant reassessment of the security environment. Should intelligence reports indicate an imminent threat or escalation, further closures may be enacted. Meanwhile, technological solutions like the Iron Dome, advanced surveillance systems, border sensors, and rapid-response teams will remain on high alert before, during, and after the holiday period.
Regional context is critical. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran provides support and direction to Hezbollah and Hamas, intensifying what Israeli officials describe as a coordinated campaign against the Jewish state. Israel’s security calculus for reopening public spaces takes into account this reality, ensuring that tradition and normalcy are upheld where possible, but never at the expense of readiness. The ongoing hostage crisis—more than one hundred innocent civilians held in Gaza since October 7—remains central to Israel’s national consciousness and affects every aspect of public safety policy.
Within Israeli society, the temporary relaxation of travel restrictions has been welcomed with caution and a renewed sense of solidarity. Civil organizations, landscape conservationists, and hiking clubs have praised the move as a return to cherished norms, while public safety advocates continue to press the message of vigilance. The IDF and national police warn that all plans during Passover should be flexible; as security realities shift, so too may the scope of public access. This pragmatic stance is widely understood by a public well-versed in the costs and necessities of national defense.
In sum, Israel’s strategic reopening of key civilian routes and recreational areas during Passover reflects its ongoing battle for normality in an era of protracted conflict. The effort is as much about defending national spirit as it is about securing physical borders. With the region still in the throes of a multi-layered campaign waged by Iran and its terror proxies, the IDF’s protocols are carefully constructed to allow life to continue, even as the possibility of renewed violence looms. Civilians observing holiday traditions this year will do so in full awareness of the stakes, embodying the unity and resilience that underpin Israel’s defense. As the nation marks its ancient journey from slavery to freedom, the struggle to defend life, liberty, and sovereignty continues—with the unwavering determination that terror will never dictate Israel’s destiny.
