Far-right Israelis vow to expand illegal settlements in Gaza as well

Hundreds of far-right Israeli settlers gathered at a conference near the border with Gaza to press for the rebuilding of illegal settlements in the Palestinian enclave.

Currently, there are 140 illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and around 30 in the occupied East Jerusalem.

According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring its civilian population into occupied territories, these settlements are considered illegal under international law.

This view is supported by several United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 242 (1967) and Resolution 2334 (2016), both of which call for an end to Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The event, held in an area designated by the Israeli army as a closed military zone near the settlement of Be’eri at the Gaza border, carries the slogan of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party along with the “Gaza is Ours, Forever” slogan and is centred on preparing for settlement efforts in the territory under the title of “Preparing to Resettle Gaza," which Israel evacuated in 2005.

Several government ministers and Knesset members attended the conference, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Minister of Equality May Golan, one of the conference organisers, called for the establishment of Jewish-only settlements in Gaza.

"We will hit them where it hurts - their land. Anyone who uses his land to plan another holocaust will receive another Nakba from us," she said.

Far-Right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir leads the crowd in song at the “Preparing to Resettle Gaza” Conference, which took place over two days on Israel’s southern border with Gaza.

Ben-Gvir was greeted by eager applause from the crowd. “We are the owners of the… pic.twitter.com/hbVP7XdTSK

— Rachel Fink (@RachelSFink) October 21, 2024