The closure imposed on the Gaza Strip may remain intact if thousands of West Bank settlers would pour into the area, IDF and Israel Police sources said Thursday.
The Gaza Strip was sealed off 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.
Earlier it was estimated that due to the successful evacuation of anti-pullout activists from Gush Katif’s "Maoz Hayam" hotel the closure of the strip would be lifted as early as Friday morning.
Since the hotel’s evacuation right-wing activists have been reassessing their anti-pullout campaign.
“Our retaliation to the evacuation of the hotel will take place shortly, at the time and place of our choice; it would not necessarily be in Gush Katif,” one activist said.
The Yesha Council has demanded that the IDF open Gush Katif immediately to allow what they called a normal life for the area’s residents. Gaza has been declared a closed military zone by the army, in preparation for the disengagement.
The council warned that if the IDF did not reverse its decision to seal off the Gaza Strip, it would launch a campaign entitled “Helping our heroic brethren,” which will include the flooding of Gush Katif with thousands of supporters.
IDF sources said Thursday the quality of life of law-abiding Gush Katif settlers is of the utmost importance to the army, and therefore the lifting of the closure is being considered.
“We want them to carry on with their lives in a normal manner and without disturbances,” one source said.
“However, if it turns out that in the future right-wing activists would attempt to enter the area and stir violent provocations that would endanger the Palestinians or (Israel’s) security forces, Southern Command Chief Dan Harel may issue a new decree.”
'Right-wing activists make us look bad'
IDF sources said that despite the fact that some Gush Katif settlers had praised them following the “Maoz Hayam” hotel raid, the army is prepared for the possibility of escalation.
“In such a case we are willing to uphold the Major-General’s decree (regarding the closure of the Gaza Strip), even until August 15, when the evacuation is set to begin,” one source said.
Fifteen families from the Gush Katif settlement of Neve Dkalim told the IDF they would be willing to move into the “Maoz Hayam” hotel.
“It is terrible what the group of irresponsible people that settled in this hotel has caused us. It makes us look bad,” Neve Dkalim resident Yossi Noyman told Ynet.
“We promise to guard the hotel in a responsible and reliable manner to preserve the hotel and prevent right-wing activists from seizing it once again.”
The IDF has confirmed the initiative has been presented to military officials.
