Residents Near Gaza Protest Against International Forces Entering Strip Amid Security Concerns

Residents of the Gaza border area, along with the Tzav 9 movement and the 'Gaza Envelope' forum, held an emergency protest at the Kerem Shalom crossing on Tuesday. The demonstration opposed plans to introduce international forces into the Gaza Strip and begin reconstruction efforts before a full disarmament of Hamas and the complete demilitarization of the area are achieved. Protesters blocked the road at the crossing, preventing humanitarian aid trucks from entering Gaza.

Reut Ben Haim, chairperson of Tzav 9, told Channel 7 that the protest represents a rational voice from the field, expressing concern over recent events such as incendiary balloons landing in their communities and warnings from observers, all while Israeli forces’ hands are tied. She emphasized the threat posed by foreign forces entering Gaza, stating, "We will stop a situation where foreign forces enter Gaza and bind the hands of the IDF."

Oren Samdagh, a bereaved father who recently joined the Hadut party, also spoke out during the protest. He criticized the ongoing revival of Hamas, calling them Israel’s greatest enemy, and highlighted the return of incendiary balloon terrorism with no state response. Samdagh stressed that the approach used since October 7 has failed, saying, "The war is not over because we have not defeated Hamas. My son and all the soldiers worked to defeat Hamas, but it has not happened yet, and life goes on. This chills me."

The protest reflects deep local opposition to international intervention in Gaza before Israel achieves its security objectives, underscoring the tension between humanitarian efforts and military strategy in the ongoing conflict.