Protesters Block Kerem Shalom Crossing to Stop ISF Deployment

Residents of the Gaza envelope and activists from the Tzav 9 movement, Otef Israel Forum, and the Israel Envelope organization held an emergency demonstration on Tuesday near the Kerem Shalom Crossing. Protesters blocked roads to stop humanitarian aid trucks and demand that the government halt the deployment of the International Stabilization Force into the Gaza Strip.

Reut Ben Haim, chairwoman of Tzav 9, argued that allowing foreign forces to manage Gaza and begin reconstruction before the full disarmament of Hamas would jeopardize Israeli security. Demonstrators claimed such a move would tie the hands of the Israel Defense Forces. The protest was further motivated by reports of kites launched from Gaza into Israel, which residents interpret as a sign of returning Hamas activity.

Yishai Spaz, field director for the Security for the Gaza Envelope movement, claimed that aid trucks provide direct funding to terrorism. Police and Israel Defense Forces soldiers maintained a security presence at the site as International Stabilization Force vehicles began moving toward the crossing.