The IDF declared much of the Gaza border region a closed military zone Sunday as thousands of Israelis prepared to march from Yad Mordechai toward the enclave in support of reestablishing Jewish communities evacuated in 2005.
The demonstration, organized by the Nahala movement, was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. at Yad Mordechai Junction, north of Gaza. Organizers promoted the event as the “March of Thousands” and said its purpose was to press the government to begin renewing Israeli settlement in the Strip before this year’s election.
Nahala has described the march as a step toward “returning home after 21 years” and has focused its immediate campaign on renewed settlement in northern Gaza.
Ahead of the event, Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor signed an order closing a broad section of the western Negev from 8 a.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday.
AFSI Insight
It’s unfortunate that the IDF had to declare the Gaza border area a closed military zone. AFSI sees the Gaza march as a reminder of the failure of the 2005 disengagement and the dangers that followed when Hamas turned Gaza into a terror base. While respecting the IDF’s security restrictions, AFSI believes Israel must retain the freedom to determine Gaza’s future based solely on its security needs and the protection of its citizens. We must also keep in mind that Gaza is part of Israel, both historically and legally. As it was part of the British Mandate for Palestine, under the doctrine of uti possidetis juris, international law recognizes that it became part of Israel when the British declared Israel sovereign over the mandatory territory in 1948.