Thousands March Toward Gaza Border to Demand Re-establishment of Settlements

The event, organized by the settlement movement Nachala, was titled the March of Thousands. While organizers claimed more than 10,000 people attended, other reports estimated the crowd at a few hundred. The demonstrators gathered near the border, specifically overlooking the sites of the former settlements of Elei Sinai, Dugit, and Nisanit.

Government Presence and Political Messaging

The rally drew significant participation from senior members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition, signaling that calls to resettle Gaza have moved from the political margins into mainstream discourse.

Among those in attendance were National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom have been sanctioned by several European countries. Ben-Gvir posted a video of himself at the march with the caption “Gaza is ours,” while Smotrich urged Israelis not to miss a historic opportunity to rebuild communities in the coastal territory.

Other ministers present included Nir Barkat, Shlomo Karhi, Amichai Chikli, May Golan, Idit Silman, and Amichai Eliyahu, alongside Deputy Minister Almog Cohen and more than a dozen coalition lawmakers. The Likud party, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, was listed as a sponsor of the event, despite the Prime Minister’s stated position that Gaza will not be resettled.

Security Restrictions and Military Zones

In anticipation of the march, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) designated parts of the western Negev as a closed military zone for 24 hours, from 8:00 a.m. Sunday to 8:00 a.m. Monday. The military cited concerns that participants intended to cross the fence into Gaza, noting previous incidents where activists entered the territory.

According to News24, security forces established checkpoints near locations such as Kibbutz Nir Am to block access to the restricted area. Despite these measures, reports from Al Jazeera and thecurrent.pk indicate that some marchers bypassed checkpoints by moving through nearby hillsides to reach the border fence. Footage verified by media outlets showed dozens of individuals gathered at the boundary.

Historical Context and Future Intentions

The marchers campaigned under slogans including Returning home after 21 years and Putting our stamp on the border. Participants, including activists and some families from communities near the border, expressed a desire to return to the territory as soon as possible.

Nachala leader Daniella Weiss, a long-time advocate for the resettlement of Gaza, stated that the military’s restrictions increased public interest in the event. During a previous Likud party conference, Weiss had stated that Palestinians would “disappear” from the territory.

For many participants, the event was framed as the beginning of a campaign to restore Jewish communities. We are walking today to tell the government of Israel and show all the world that this land belongs to us, said participant Daniel Sellem.

While the event drew high-profile political support, the status of the territory remains contested. Israeli forces currently control more than 60% of the Gaza Strip, where violence persists despite an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. As noted by ynetnews.com, the event was coordinated with authorities to ensure it remained a political demonstration rather than an attempt to enter the Gaza Strip illegally, though the tension between the activists’ goals and government policy remains a point of friction.