Full Breakdown
Israeli Military Closes Gaza Periphery Ahead of Right-Wing “March of Thousands”
7/20/2026, 12:18:02 AM
Core Event
On Sunday, July 18 2026 the Israel Defense Forces declared the entire Gaza periphery a closed military zone from 8 a.m. that day until 8 a.m. Monday. The zone stretches from Yad Mordechai in the north, along Route 232, to Kerem Shalom at the southern tip. The restriction was issued to block the “March of Thousands,” organized by the Nachala settler movement, which was scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and to “return home after 21 years,” referencing the 2005 disengagement from Gaza’s Gush Katif bloc.
Background & Context
In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip, dismantling the settlement bloc that included Elei Sinai, Dugit and Nisanit. Since the October 7 2023 Hamas attack, Nachala—a radical group that has helped establish illegal West Bank outposts—has repeatedly called for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza’s Palestinian population and for new Jewish settlements in the enclave. The movement has staged similar border marches in February and December 2025, some of which briefly breached the security fence before being repatriated by the IDF.
Key Figures & Groups
- Nachala movement – organizer of the march; leader Daniella Weiss.
- Government participants – National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (also overseeing settlement administration), Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, Social Equality Minister May Golan, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, and Deputy Minister Almog Cohen.
- Coalition lawmakers – Likud MKs Avichay Buaron, Eli Dalal, Amit Halevi, Tsega Melaku, Moshe Saada, Ariel Kallner, Afef Abed, Moshe Passal; Religious Zionist Party MKs Ohad Tal, Tzvi Succot, Moshe Solomon, Michal Waldiger, Simcha Rothman; Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech.
- Bereaved families – Eliav Libi, father of David Libi, killed May 2025.
Timeline
- October 7 2023 – Hamas massacre that intensified settler rhetoric.
- February 5 2026 – Nachala march photographed with saplings and flags.
- July 18 2026, 8 a.m. – IDF announces 24-hour closed zone.
- July 18 2026, 5 p.m. – Planned “March of Thousands” departure from Yad Mordechai.
- June 2026 – Smotrich states readiness to establish three Gaza communities pending Netanyahu’s approval.
- December 2025 – Activists briefly cross into Gaza before being returned.
Official Statements & Responses
The IDF warned that the closed zone was a crowd-control measure aimed at preventing illegal entry into Gaza. Military police checkpoints were erected, and both army and Israel Police units were deployed to stop marchers from reaching the border fence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed that Israel will not resettle Gaza, citing the U.S.-backed peace plan and potential international backlash. Finance Minister Smotrich, however, has said Israel has prepared plans for three new settlements, awaiting only the prime minister’s “green light.”
Criticism & Opposition
Several coalition ministers have publicly advocated for full occupation of Gaza and the establishment of Jewish settlements, a stance that would contradict the 2020 peace framework and risk diplomatic condemnation. Conversely, MK Avichay Buaron emphasized that the rally was intended solely as a political message, denying any intent to break the law or enter Gaza.
On-the-Ground Reports
Despite the closed zone, at least four army checkpoints were breached by marchers who skirted around jeeps and police. Participants carried Israeli flags and saplings, some reaching a hill adjacent to the Gaza border fence. The IDF reported no successful crossing into the Strip, though the exact number of breach attempts remains unclear.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on whether any marchers actually entered Gaza; the IDF maintains none did, while eyewitness accounts note a group reaching the fence’s vicinity. The total size of the crowd is variably reported as “thousands” and “28 ministers and coalition lawmakers” attending, without precise headcounts.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are ready to establish three communities in northern Gaza immediately, as soon as the prime minister gives the green light,” — Bezalel Smotrich, Finance Minister
- “settlement equals security!” — May Golan, Social Equality Minister
- “We need to resettle the northern part of the Gaza Strip,” — Avichay Buaron, Likud MK
- “settle in all the regions of land granted to our forefathers, to show our enemies that it’s not worth messing with us, to show a meaningful picture of victory.” — Shlomo Karhi, Communications Minister
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The military’s closure and the high-profile march underscore a deepening fissure within Israel’s right-wing coalition over Gaza’s future, while the IDF’s enforcement highlights ongoing tensions between settler activism and state security policy.
