Right-wing 'Israeli' settlers wave national flags in Gaza
'Israeli' settlers breach Gaza borders, call for reoccupation
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- Several 'Israelis' enter Gaza Strip, holding a symbolic flag-raising ceremony.
- 'Israeli' army says entry into Gaza is forbidden and returned intruders.
- Protesters call for reoccupation and resettlement of Palestinian territory.
Several 'Israelis' entered the Gaza Strip on Thursday in defiance of army orders, holding a symbolic flag-raising event to call for the reoccupation and resettlement of the Palestinian territory.
The 'Israeli' army confirmed the breach, stating that the group had been under constant observation and emphasizing that entry into Gaza is prohibited.
"Any entrance to a combat zone is forbidden, endangers civilians, and disturbs IDF operations," the military added. Those who entered were returned to 'Israeli' territory, while troops prevented dozens of others from crossing elsewhere, though some managed to breach a security barrier.
- Flag-raising at former settlement -
A photo circulated on right-wing social media showed about 20 men, women, and children standing around an 'Israeli' flag on an empty plot of land at Kfar Darom, a former kibbutz in central Gaza. Kfar Darom and 20 other settlements were evacuated along with the 'Israeli' military presence in Gaza during 'Israel's' unilateral disengagement in 2005.
The protest reflects a fringe movement on the 'Israeli' right that has called for re-establishing Gaza settlements. The movement became more vocal after October 7, 2023, with some politicians advocating for Palestinian evacuation and a return to full 'Israeli' control.
- Settler leaders voice intentions -
Daniella Weiss, a leading figure in the settler movement, praised the protest. Speaking at a rally in Sderot near the Gaza border, she told supporters, "With God's help, this flag-raising will mark the beginning of a new era, an era in which we return to Gaza."
She added, "Not Indonesians, not Turks, not Egyptians, not any country, only the people of Israel will rule in Gaza," referencing proposed international forces for stabilizing the territory.
The action had been planned in advance, with the ultra-nationalist pro-settlement movement Nachala, co-founded by Weiss, announcing the flag-raising in a letter signed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, 10 other ministers, and more than 20 lawmakers.
