Thousands of Israelis, mostly right-wing activists and former settlers, marched to the Gaza border on Sunday. They carried Israeli flags and called on the government to allow the re-establishment of Jewish settlements in the area.

Security forces stopped them from crossing into the restricted zone as the demonstrators pushed their message that the land belongs to them.

Participants like Daniel Sellem spoke passionately during the march. He reminded everyone that Jews lived in Gaza until the 2005 disengagement plan forced them out. Sellem said the goal was to pressure leaders to let them return and rebuild their communities as soon as possible.

Another marcher, Yechiel Greenblum, described the event as just the start of a bigger campaign to reclaim areas where their people had lived for generations.

The protest comes amid ongoing tensions in the region. Israeli forces control a large part of Gaza following years of conflict, even as a ceasefire holds between Israel and Hamas. Much of the territory remains badly damaged, but these activists believe there is no reason Jews cannot go back and settle in northern Gaza once again.

This was not the first such march. Similar demonstrations have taken place before, aimed at influencing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which is already one of the most right-leaning in Israel’s history.

The activists want the authorities to reverse the 2005 decision and support new settlement efforts.

The march highlights deep divisions over the future of Gaza. While some see it as a security risk, the participants view returning as both a right and a necessity. As calls for resettlement grow louder, the Israeli government faces increasing pressure on how to handle this sensitive issue.

Photo credit: Oren ziv