A contentious demonstration near the Gaza Strip border recently saw several Israeli cabinet ministers and parliamentarians participate, fervently advocating for the reconstruction of Jewish Gaza settlements. This bold march, defying last-minute military restrictions, signals a dramatic escalation in calls to re-establish communities evacuated over two decades ago.
The Sunday rally was more than just a gathering; it was a clear declaration. Organizers ignored an army order that sought to constrain their route, fearing participants might breach the highly sensitive border fence into the besieged Palestinian territory. Such defiance underscores a burgeoning movement, pulling what was once a fringe political demand for the resettlement of Gaza firmly into the Israeli political mainstream.
Push for Gaza Settlements Resettlement
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, despite his public assurances that Gaza would not be resettled, was conspicuously listed among the rally’s sponsors. This duality highlights internal tensions and the growing influence of hardline elements within his coalition. Earlier, the Israeli army had declared the area a closed military zone for a full 24 hours, a measure explicitly aimed at preventing marchers from physically crossing into Gaza itself.
Nachala, the settler organization behind the event, grandiosely titled it the “March of Thousands,” claiming an attendance exceeding 10,000. However, Israeli media reports painted a starkly different picture, estimating the crowd at a mere few hundred individuals. Daniella Weiss, Nachala’s leader, a long-standing proponent of Israel resettling Gaza, has even controversially stated that Palestinians would “disappear” from the territory. Indeed, some determined participants circumvented checkpoints by navigating through nearby hillsides, eventually reaching the Gaza border, where verified video footage showed dozens of Israelis congregating.
Among the prominent figures present were Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who also holds sway over settlement affairs, and the notoriously hawkish National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. More than two dozen other ministers and legislators also joined the ranks, Israeli media confirmed. Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have, notably, faced sanctions from several European nations due to their contentious policies and rhetoric.
Under the emotive banner, “returning home after 21 years,” the marchers vehemently demanded the rebuilding of Elei Sinai, Dugit, and Nisanit – three distinct settlements dismantled during Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. Ben-Gvir, a vocal member of Netanyahu’s cabinet, shared a video of himself amidst the throngs, emblazoned with the stark caption: ‘Gaza is ours.’ His cabinet colleague, Smotrich, echoed this sentiment, urging Israelis not to squander a “historic opportunity” to reconstruct the Gaza settlements.
Palestinian lawyer and analyst Diana Buttu offered a sobering perspective to Al Jazeera, asserting that Israel’s relentless settlement expansion has been tragically enabled by a systemic lack of accountability. “Because Israel has never been punished for its crimes, it’s only natural that a country that commits genocide and ethnic cleansing feels emboldened to steal more land,” she lamented. This sentiment resonates with a past incident in December, when Nachala activists briefly crossed into Gaza, audaciously planting an Israeli flag before being escorted back by soldiers. The push for new construction in this volatile region raises critical questions about stability and justice. For a broader understanding of the historical context of Israeli settlement activities, consult this resource.
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