Israeli Ministers and MKs to Join 'March of the Thousands to Gaza' Amid Military Closure in Western Negev

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced a military closure in the western Negev region ahead of a planned march organized by the Nahala movement on Sunday evening. The march, titled "Putting a Stamp on the Boundary" and "Returning Home After 21 Years," aims to enter the Gaza Strip despite official prohibitions. Several ministers and Knesset members from the coalition are expected to participate, including Cabinet ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, Likud ministers Nir Barkat, Shlomo Karhi, Amichai Shikli, May Golan, and Idit Silman, as well as Minister Amichai Eliyahu and Deputy Minister Almog Cohen.

The march will begin at 5:00 PM at the Yad Mordechai junction. Additional Knesset members attending include Avichai Boaron, Eli Dalal, Amit Halevi, Michal Waldiger, Ohad Tal, Tzaga Malko, Tzvi Sukkot, Moshe Solomon, Limor Son Har Melech, Moshe Saada, Afif Abd, Moshe Pesel, Ariel Kallner, and Simcha Rothman. The military closure order, effective from 8:00 AM Sunday until 8:00 AM Monday, covers the area from Yad Mordechai junction west to Sha'ar HaNegev junction and from Sha'ar HaNegev junction west to Kerem Shalom. The IDF emphasized that residents and workers will still be allowed access to local communities.

The northern boundary area referenced in the march was formerly an Israeli settlement bloc in northern Gaza, including Eli Sinai, Dugit, Nisanit, and the Erez industrial zone. These settlements were evacuated during the disengagement plan. Recently, Minister Smotrich has advocated for returning to this area. At the end of June, the Finance Minister, who also serves as Defense Minister, stated readiness to immediately establish three new settlements in the northern Gaza boundary once the Prime Minister gives approval.