GUSH KATIF, Gaza Strip - The IDF sealed off the Gaza Strip to Israelis in a bid to limit the entry of non-residents to the area who want to fortify the territory ahead of Israel's Gaza pullout this summer, days after settlers attacked soldiers and Palestinians.
The army said the decision to seal off the Gaza Strip was made in direct result of the recent escalation of violence from right-wing activists.
Violence between anti-pullout protesters has increased in recent weeks. Settlers assaulted a group of Palestinians on a Gaza beach on June 18 and almost killed a Palestinian boy in a stoning attack on Wednesday when clashes broke out between Palestinians and settlers who seized a structure in a Palestinian town.
When troops arrived to stop the scuffles, the right-wingers attacked them as well.
Forces also stormed a hotel in a Gaza settlement on Thursday to remove a group of right-wingers who had taken refuge there in recent weeks and who security sources suspected had planned to demonstrate violently against Israel's Gaza withdrawal.
Settlers slam activists
But some settlers slammed the activists, blaming their behavior for the closure and saying they gave Jewish residents of Gaza a bad name.
"The IDF must stop the provocations that are meant to blacken the faces of the residents of Gush Katif. The security forces were able to expel the unwelcome radicals a long time ago, it's a shame they didn't do it before then," said Lior Kalpa, secretary of the Neve Dekalim settlement.
Shimon Yaron, a farmer from the settlement of Gan Or, said the activists did not represent the rest of the settlers.
"If these same militants would have come here years ago to help us develop and build the (settlement) bloc, then we would be able to understand them," he said. "We do not intend to protest violently in any way. It is because of those militants that people think that residents intend to harm IDF troops."
Activist vows to help fortify Gaza
Right-wing activist Itamar Ben Gvir, who was expelled from Gaza last week on suspicions of inciting violence, said the army and police would not be able to stop "thousands from reaching Gush Katif," ahead of Israel's planned evacuation of all 21 settlements in August.
"The closing of the hotel is a red line that will spark a serious struggle," he said. "If they (close it), we will respond by setting up five more (hotels), by bringing in hundreds of people to the area."
Military sources said protesters of Israel's pullout have already set out and are making their way toward Gaza.
Read a selection of Ynetnews' coverage of pre-Gaza Strip pullout events
- Bloodshed in Gaza?
- Standoff in Gaza
- Settlers, Palestinians clash
- Hotel raid averted
- IDF raids extremist stronghold
Security forces are also concerned Palestinian terrorists will attempt to strike Israeli targets in and around Gaza. Terrorists from the town of Khan Younis, near Gush Katif, threatened to attack both the hotel and an outpost settlers had set up illegally this week, forcing the army to seal the areas.
Israel has vowed it will stop gunmen who try to attack Israelis during the pullout and said it could move into Palestinian towns as well to ensure further violence does not ensue.
