Several Israeli settlers enter Gaza, try to plant trees before being detained by IDF |
Several Israeli settler activists crossed into the Gaza Strip Wednesday night in an attempt to plant trees as a precursor to establishing new Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territory. The activists were detained by IDF troops.
According to the IDF, the civilians were monitored the entire time by soldiers operating surveillance cameras.
Troops stationed in the area captured the suspects, brought them back to Israel, and handed them over to the police for further questioning, the army added.
“The IDF emphasizes that any entry into a combat zone is prohibited, endangers civilians, and disrupts the activity of IDF troops in the area,” the military said.
During their brief incursion into Gaza, the settlers posted a video on social media showing a man declaring he was inside the Strip, while holding a sapling he said he intended to plant in the area.
“We came to plant for the Jewish settlement in Gaza. All of the Land of Israel is ours,” he said.
עשרות ישראלים נכנסו הערב בחסות החשיכה לרצועת עזה – במטרה ליישב מחדש את יישובי גוש קטיף.
צה"ל הצליח להוציא את מרביתם והודיע כי השיב אותם ארצה, אך לטענת המארגנים: יש קבוצה שעדיין מצליחה להישאר בשטח ולא מצליחים לפנות אותה.........