In a significant demonstration in the southern city of Sderot, Israel, tens of thousands of far-right protesters gathered to advocate for the construction of settlements in the Gaza Strip. The rally, which took place on Tuesday, highlighted the growing right-wing sentiment surrounding Israel's military campaign in the region.
The protesters marched under the banner of a 'returning home' demonstration, emphasizing the need for 'extensive settlement in the Gaza Strip to guarantee the achievements of the war.' Organizers of the event expressed their desire to rectify what they perceived as past mistakes, particularly referencing the Oslo Accords and the 'disengagement' from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir addressed the crowd, calling for efforts to 'encourage immigration' and 'voluntary departure of the residents of Gaza.' However, such rhetoric has sparked accusations of advocating for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the region.
The 'disengagement' mentioned in the rally refers to Israel's unilateral withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, during which the Israeli military forcibly evacuated a bloc of 21 settlements known as Gush Katif. This move, spearheaded by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, aimed to bolster the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The Oslo Accords, signed in 1993 between Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin, were intended to pave the way for Israeli-Palestinian peace by establishing limited Palestinian self-governance in parts of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
