'Israeli' MK blocks Gaza aid trucks in election campaign

• Malinovsky stood with sanctioned group Tsav 9 and Amcha Israel as ~20 demonstrators halted essential supplies.
• Protesters alleged humanitarian aid allows Hamas to rearm, pushing for a total halt to shipments.
• Far-right activist Sigal Kraunik called aid a "national disgrace" and urged the forced emigration of Palestinians from Gaza.
• The blockade follows reports of activists destroying cargo and allegedly receiving insider route info from military and police ties.

'Israeli opposition lawmaker Yulia Malinovsky of the Yisrael Beiteinu party joined far-right activists on Thursday to physically block humanitarian aid trucks heading into the Gaza Strip near the Kerem Shalom crossing, leveraging the obstruction of vital supplies to score political points ahead of upcoming elections.

Malinovsky was reported standing directly in front of the transport trucks to prevent them from passing, aligning herself with candidates and far-right figures to turn the blockade into an electioneering stunt.

Around 20 demonstrators took part in the action, halting convoy movements while claiming that the shipments of essential humanitarian aid were aiding Hamas.

The demonstration was organized by members of the far-right group Amcha Israel alongside Tsav 9, an extremist movement currently sanctioned by both the United States and the European Union for its repeated, violent disruptions of relief convoys.

Inflammatory claims

During the blockade, figures associated with the protest utilized the presence of politicians to push extreme ideological agendas and endorse political allies.

Sigal Kraunik, a member of Amcha Israel, labeled the continued delivery of aid to Gaza a "national disgrace".

Kraunik alleged that three years after the October 7, Hamas remains operational, is rearming, and continues to pose a threat despite 'Israeli' military efforts.

"Instead of bringing aid to terrorists, the State of Israel must promote emigration from Gaza," Kraunik claimed, alleging that doing so was a duty to the fallen and the only path to security.

Kraunik further used the platform to advocate for Amcha Israel leader Ofer Winter, claiming he was the only candidate capable of advancing such a policy as defense minister.

Similarly, Tsav 9 leader Yael Sabrigo alleged that the trucks allow Hamas to grow richer and stronger. "We are here to stop this madness and make one clear demand: demilitarization of Gaza and the complete dismantling of Hamas," Sabrigo claimed.

Tsav 9 reported that police officers were forcibly removing its activists from the crossing area. Nevertheless, the group stated it would persist in its efforts to block what it labels "Hamas trucks".

The blockage reflects a broader pattern of far-right obstruction targeting Gaza relief. A May 2024 Haaretz investigation previously documented how a network of far-right activists organized to intercept aid convoys, with some threatening drivers and vandalizing or destroying cargo. That investigation also highlighted claims by activists that they received advance information regarding truck routes directly from individuals connected to the military and police.