'Israeli' settlers block aid convoys to Gaza amid existing government restrictions
'Israeli' settlers attempted on Tuesday to block humanitarian aid trucks bound for the Gaza Strip at the port of Ashdod in southern 'Israel', according to 'Israeli' media, despite the already limited aid allowed in under strict government restrictions.
The protest comes as Gaza endures a worsening famine, now in its 87th consecutive day under a complete 'Israeli' blockade. International pressure has recently forced Tel Aviv to permit limited deliveries of humanitarian aid—quantities that major organizations have described as a “drop in the ocean” compared to the dire needs on the ground.
According to Haaretz, around 20 far-right activists from the 'Israeli' group “Order 9” gathered at Ashdod port on Tuesday, chanting slogans at Gazans such as: “You won’t get a crumb of bread until the hostages are returned,” referring to Israeli captives held in Gaza.
Police reportedly intervened to disperse the protesters. Haaretz also noted that members of Order 9 have previously obstructed aid convoys, assaulted truck drivers, and damaged shipments.
Aid entering Gaza through Ashdod is typically transferred to one of three 'Israeli' crossings—Kerem Shalom in the south, and Zikim and Erez in the north—where it is often held for extended periods. Since May 22, 'Israel' has released only a minimal number of trucks—just a fraction of the 500 trucks of aid and 50 fuel trucks needed daily to address the humanitarian crisis, according to Gaza’s government media office.
While international organizations warn that aid deliveries remain severely inadequate, Gaza authorities have accused Israel of “engineering starvation” as a means to force population displacement and deflect global criticism.
Who is ‘Order 9’?
Order 9 was founded in January 2024 by settlers Reut and Yosef Ben Haim from the settlement of Netivot in the Negev, under the slogan: “No aid until the last hostage returns.” The group’s name references an 'Israeli' military mobilization code (“Tzav 9”) for emergency reserve call-ups.
Their first action took place on January 10, 2024, when they protested at the Kerem Shalom crossing and called for a halt to all humanitarian aid to Gaza. In an interview with Maariv on March 10, Reut Ben Haim explained the origins of the movement: “When we saw the aid trucks along the border, we stopped and blocked them. That’s when my husband and I realized we needed to mobilize others.”
Since the war began, Order 9 members have repeatedly blocked aid convoys, sometimes physically attacking drivers and destroying cargo, according to 'Israeli' reports. In 2024, both the European Union and the Biden administration imposed sanctions on the group.
However, after returning to office in early 2025, President Donald Trump lifted all US sanctions on 'Israeli' right-wing activists and organizations, including Order 9—paving the way for their continued disruption of aid to Gaza.
