7 ultranationalist activists indicted for illegally crossing into Gaza a year ago

Seven Israeli ultranationalist activists, including a minor, are indicted for illegally traveling through the Erez border crossing zone on the border with Gaza back in February 2024, and building rudimentary structures there as a symbolic settlement.

The indictment notes that following a march from Sderot to Erez by some 100 activists calling for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza, including those indicted, around 20 activists broke through the border and walked several hundred meters into the territory.

IDF soldiers had to chase after those activists and forcibly bring them back to Israel, but, at that same time, a large number of the other participants in the march entered the Erez crossing zone and erected structures with wooden boards they were carrying.

According to the indictment, the soldiers at the crossing instructed them to leave, with some of those indicted refusing, requiring the soldiers and police who arrived at the scene to forcibly eject them. Some of the seven activists indicted, including the minor, “actively opposed” being removed.

All seven activists were charged with entering a closed military zone, and six of them were also charged with obstructing a police officer while carrying out his duty.

The march was organized by the Nachala settlement organization which has advocated for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza since the early days of the Israel-Hamas war following the October 7 atrocities. Last month, Nachala held a rally in Jerusalem calling for the permanent expulsion of the Palestinian population from Gaza.