Aid Trucks to Gaza Blocked by Protesters Near Kerem Shalom Crossing

Dozens of aid trucks en route to the Gaza Strip were blocked on Thursday near the Kerem Shalom crossing by activists from the "Tsav 9" movement, residents from the Gaza envelope communities, and representatives from various political parties. The protesters demanded an end to aid that they claim strengthens Hamas and called for the demilitarization of the Strip. The protest began in the morning with dozens of activists gathering at the crossing for a rally attended by public officials from both the coalition and opposition. "It doesn't matter who you vote for, Israel's security is not negotiable," was the central message. Among the participants were Member of Knesset Yulia Malinowski of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and Sigal Kraunik, a candidate for the Am Israel Party led by Ofer Winter, who joined in blocking the trucks. The blockade caused a delay, leaving approximately 50 trucks unable to proceed. Israeli police arrived at the scene and forcibly removed the protesters to clear the route. The demonstrators argue that the aid entering Gaza provides economic support to Hamas, enabling the organization to maintain its strength. They insist that further aid should be conditional on the demilitarization of the Strip. The protest occurs days before the Knesset elections, with participants emphasizing that the demand for Gaza's demilitarization and the preservation of Israeli security is a shared concern across different political affiliations.