Thousands of Israelis demonstrate at Gaza border demanding re-settlement

The border area with the Gaza Strip witnessed extensive movements by thousands of Israelis, as settlers and activists from right-wing currents engaged in a massive march towards the security fence. Participants raised Israeli flags amidst slogans calling for the imposition of civilian control and the rebuilding of settlement communities that were previously evacuated.

Crowds gathered at points near the northern part of the Strip before advancing in large numbers towards areas overlooking the Palestinian territories devastated by the ongoing war. Demonstrators attempted to approach the separation fence, while security forces were heavily deployed to prevent any attempts to breach the border or cross closed military zones.

Participants in the march affirmed that their movement aims to send a clear message to the Israeli government and the international community about their alleged right to the Strip. Demonstrators considered that the current military control must be followed by practical steps to resettle Israelis in the areas they left nearly two decades ago.

In field statements, one of the participants, Daniel Selem, said that the purpose of the march is to emphasize that Gaza is part of the historical land of Israel, as he described it. Selem indicated that they seek to exert strong popular pressure on decision-makers to ensure a return and life in the Strip as soon as possible.

Demonstrators recalled the unilateral disengagement plan implemented by the Israeli government in 2005, which included the dismantling of all settlements in Gaza. These activists believe that this decision was a historical mistake that must be corrected now in light of the current military circumstances created by the war.

For his part, demonstrator Yehiel Greenblum described this event as merely a first step in a long-term campaign aimed at restoring the Jewish presence in the besieged Strip. Greenblum claimed that history grants them the right to return to the places where Jews lived for centuries, emphasizing that there are no obstacles preventing settlement in the north.

These movements come at a time when pressure from far-right parties within Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is increasing to adopt explicit settlement policies in Gaza. These demands coincide with the massive destruction inflicted on Palestinian infrastructure as a result of military operations that began in October 2023.

Field data indicates that the Israeli army still controls more than 60 percent of the total area of the Gaza Strip. Despite talks of ceasefire understandings, settlement movements on the border reflect a rising right-wing trend to impose a new reality on the ground.

Observers believe that these marches are not just fleeting protests, but rather part of a systematic plan supported by political forces to impose settlement as a fait accompli. These movements raise widespread international concerns about complicating the political scene and thwarting any future opportunities for the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state.

We are marching today to tell the government of Israel and show the whole world that this land belongs to us and Gaza belongs to us, and we want to return there.