Full Breakdown
Israeli Ministers Join Pro-Settlement March to Gaza Border
7/20/2026, 11:57:58 AM
Core Event: Mass Demonstration Demanding Gaza Resettlement
On 19 July 2026, a rally organized by the Nachala settler movement gathered near the Gaza-Israel fence. The march, billed as the “March of Thousands,” called for rebuilding the three Jewish settlements—Elei Sinai, Dugit and Nisanit—evacuated during Israel’s 2005 disengagement. Participants included Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and more than two dozen other cabinet members and Knesset lawmakers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared the Gaza periphery a closed military zone from 8 a.m. Sunday to 8 a.m. Monday, covering the area between Yad Mordechai, Shaar HaNegev and Kerem Shalom, in an effort to prevent any illegal crossing into the Strip.
Background & Context: 2005 Disengagement and Ongoing Settlement Agenda
In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew roughly 8,500 Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, dismantling the Gush Katif bloc and evacuating the three settlements now targeted for revival. Since then, right-wing parties and settler groups have periodically advocated for a return to Gaza, framing it as a “historic opportunity” to re-establish a Jewish presence in the territory.
Key Figures & Groups
- Nachala – a radical settler organization that has previously helped establish illegal outposts in the West Bank and promotes the “conquest” of Gaza.
- Daniella Weiss – leader of Nachala, long-time advocate for Gaza resettlement.
- Bezalel Smotrich – Finance Minister and head of the Defense Ministry’s settlement administration; a vocal proponent of three new Gaza settlements.
- Itamar Ben-Gvir – National Security Minister, frequently posts pro-settlement messages on social media.
- Additional participants included Economy Minister Nir Barkat, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, and several lawmakers from Likud, Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit.
Data & Statistics
- Organizers claimed more than 10,000 participants; Israeli media estimated the crowd at only a few hundred.
- The closed military zone spanned the Gaza periphery from Yad Mordechai in the north to Kerem Shalom in the south, encompassing the junctions of Yad Mordechai, Shaar HaNegev and Route 232.
- Over two dozen ministers and legislators were reported to have joined the march.
Official Statements & Responses
The IDF announced the temporary closure of the border area to “prevent marchers from entering Gaza illegally.” Finance Minister Smotrich urged Israelis not to miss a “historic opportunity” to rebuild settlements, noting that plans for three new communities have been completed and await Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approval. National Security Minister Ben-Gvir posted a video captioned “Gaza is ours.” Prime Minister Netanyahu, while listed as a sponsor of the rally, has repeatedly insisted that Gaza will not be resettled, a stance that conflicts with the ministers’ public calls.
Criticism & Opposition
Palestinian lawyer Diana Buttu condemned the settlement drive, stating: “Because Israel has never been punished for its crimes, it’s only natural that a country that commits genocide and ethnic cleansing feels emboldened to steal more land.” Smotrich and Ben-Gvir have been sanctioned by several European countries for extremist activities, and their proposals are deemed illegal under international law.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Attendance figures differ sharply between organizer claims and Israeli media estimates. Some outlets reported that marchers breached four IDF checkpoints, while others described participants merely bypassing checkpoints via nearby hillsides. No independent verification exists regarding whether any activists actually entered the Gaza Strip during the demonstration.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Speaking at a Likud party conference, she said Palestinians would “disappear” from the territory.” — Daniella Weiss, Nachala leader
- “Gaza is ours.” — Itamar Ben-Gvir, National Security Minister
- “We erased the disgrace of the expulsion in northern Samaria, and with God’s help, we will do the same here in the Gaza Strip as well, with determination and perseverance,” — Bezalel Smotrich, Finance Minister
- “Because Israel has never been punished for its crimes, it’s only natural that a country that commits genocide and ethnic cleansing feels emboldened to steal more land” — Diana Buttu, Palestinian lawyer
- “Smotrich added that settlers need to “mobilize now” because if “the left” comes to power in Israel, “all of this could be undone, and we will once again march here to prevent evacuations and destruction.” — Bezalel Smotrich, Finance Minister
