Right-wing lawmakers rally in Israel demanding rebuilt Gaza settlements despite Netanyahu's opposition.

Israeli cabinet members and lawmakers marched toward Gaza demanding the reconstruction of Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Hundreds gathered near the border on Sunday as far-right leaders pushed to rebuild communities evacuated during Israel's 2005 withdrawal from Gaza. The rally represented a significant shift, moving calls for resettlement from political fringes into mainstream Israeli discourse despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's public denials. His Likud party sponsored the event even though he insists against rebuilding in Gaza.

Military authorities designated the surrounding area as a closed zone twenty-four hours prior to prevent participants from crossing into Gaza. This restriction came after intelligence indicated some marchers intended to breach the border fence. Some attendees bypassed checkpoints by climbing nearby hillsides to reach the perimeter, where verified footage showed dozens congregating along the separation barrier. Organizers identified the group as Nachala, led by Daniella Weiss who advocates for Israeli resettlement in Gaza.

Weiss stated at a recent party conference that Palestinians would eventually disappear from the territory entirely. The march carried banners calling for returning home after twenty-one years of absence since the disengagement. Participants specifically demanded rebuilding three former settlements known as Elei Sinai, Dugit, and Nisanit before evacuation orders were issued decades ago. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined more than two dozen other officials in the demonstration.

Smotrich oversees settlement affairs while both ministers face sanctions from several European nations for their policies. Ben-Gvir shared a video captioned 'Gaza is ours' showing himself among the crowd of protesters. Smotrich urged Israelis not to miss this historic opportunity to reestablish communities in Gaza despite international objections. Palestinian legal analyst Diana Buttu told Al Jazeera that lack of accountability enables these expansionist efforts by Israel. She argued that without consequences for past actions, nations committing severe crimes feel emboldened to seize additional land.

In December, a separate group of Nachala activists briefly crossed the border planting an Israeli flag before soldiers retrieved them. This incident highlighted ongoing tensions regarding unauthorized crossings into Gaza during heightened security alerts. The gathering underscored growing polarization within Israel over its future relationship with Palestinian territories and international norms. Critics warn such actions could escalate violence while undermining prospects for any sustainable regional peace agreement involving displaced populations.