IDF declares closed military zone ahead of Nahala group's march to Gaza with Smotrich, Ben-Gvir

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJULY 19, 2026 07:58Updated: JULY 19, 2026 08:07The IDF closed the area surrounding the Gaza Strip to all non-residents on Sunday morning, ahead of a planned march into Gaza by the Nahala movement at 5:00 p.m.The closed military zone extends from the Yad Mordechai junction, west of Highway 34, to the Sha'ar Hanegev junction, and from there west of Highway 232 to the Kerem Shalom area.Further, it prohibits demonstrators from entering the area along the border fence.The closed zone will be in effect from 8:00 a.m. on Sunday until the same time on Monday morning.The march, titled "Thousands march to Gaza," bears the slogan "After 21 years, we're returning home," referencing the 2005 disengagement from Gush Katif.Members of Nahala movement march toward Gaza Strip with saplings and Israeli flags, February 5, 2026. (credit: The Nahala Movement)National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu, and Social Equality Minister May Golan will reportedly all attend the march.Golan called on the public to join her, declaring that "settlement equals security!"MKs Limor Son Har-Melech (Otzma Yehudit), Almog Cohen (Otzma Yehudit), Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party), and Zvi Sukkot (Religious Zionist Party) are also expected to attend.The Nahala movement, which has been making recruitment efforts online over the past few days, was also joined by bereaved families, including Eliav Libi, the father of David Libi, who was killed in May 2025 in Gaza while conducting engineering work for the IDF on behalf of the Defense Ministry.Libi called on the organization's supporters to come to the Yad Mordechai junction, adding: "Everyone come, because we must return home!"Nahala movement organizes march, crossings into GazaSince the start of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023, the Nahala movement has organized several similar marches towards the Gaza Strip, the most recent of which took place in February and in December.In February, some 1,500 people gathered along the Gaza border to march toward the Strip and plant trees near the ruins of Nisanit.Participants set out in groups toward the Black Arrow monument and other routes, carrying Israeli flags and saplings to signal support for renewed Jewish settlement as a path to security, according to the organizers.At the time, the IDF had condemned the march and deployed both troops and Israel Police officers to prevent civilian marchers from reaching the fence and crossing the border.In December, a group organized by the movement succeeded in crossing to Gaza, before being returned to Israel by IDF soldiers operating in the area. A second attempt was also made at a different point of the security fence between Gaza and Israel.Shir Perets and Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.Follow us on Google