Israeli settlers establish outpost near Gaza border

The Nachala settler movement has established a new outpost named ‘Pioneers of Gaza’ (Halutzei Gaza) in the Simhoni Forest in southern Israel, overlooking northern Gaza. More than 700 participants, including bereaved families, wounded soldiers, rabbis, and public figures, reportedly took part in installing structures and basic infrastructure overnight.

The movement is using the outpost to pressure the Israeli government to authorize the relocation of the settlement into the northern buffer zone inside the Gaza Strip. Nachala advocates for the re-establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza, the repeal of the Disengagement Law, and the encouragement of Palestinian emigration, asserting that Gaza is an ‘inseparable part of the Land of Israel.’

Israeli police and military responded to the action by monitoring the site and declaring the area a closed military zone to prevent settlers from crossing the border fence into the enclave. Roads leading to the area were closed to prevent further attempts to enter Gaza.