In honor of 20 years since the Gaza pullout, JNS presents a series reflecting on disengagement, speaking with an array of former Gush Katif residents to find out how they perceive the Oct. 7 invasion, the Trump plan and the prospect of returning.
About two months into “Operation Swords of Iron,” Aviel Tucker, a former resident of Gush Katif and son of Anita Tucker, currently living in Netzer Hazani, (both dear friends of AFSI) got a call from his son, Dan, a Golani fighter who had been serving there since the start of the IDF ground offensive.
“I’m coming home,” Dan informed him.
“‘When are you coming?” Aviel asked him. “We’ll prepare for your arrival.”
“No,” his son said. “I’m coming … home.”
At that point, Aviel knew exactly what he meant. “Home” was the original Netzer Hazani, an agricultural settlement in Gush Katif where Aviel was born and raised, and which they were forced to leave on Aug. 15, 2005.
Americans for a Safe Israel remembers the senseless destruction of the beautiful Jewish community of Gush Katif. The expulsion from Gush Katif almost 20 years ago was a tremendous mistake, and even worse, an incomprehensible human tragedy. Never again should any Jewish community in Judea, Samaria or anywhere in Israel be expelled from their land for any reason but certainly to be used as a pilot program to test the potential for peace. It has been tested and the result is a complete FAIL!