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Evacuees returning to Strim
Photo: Amir Cohen

Gush Katif evacuees march toward Gaza

In march marking two years since disengagement, evacuees break through police barrier, leading to a few arrests; four evacuees entering Palestinian territory are rescued by IDF. 'Eventually, we will return home', says Elei Sinai evacuee

Hundreds of Gush Katif evacuees, mostly youths, marched toward the evacuated settlements Nisanit and Elei Sinai in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday, marking two years since the disengagement.

 

Upon arriving at the Nativ Ha'asara community, some of the marchers broke through the police barrier in the area and managed to reach the fence which separates between the community and the remains of Elei Sinai and Nisanit.

 

Hundreds of police officers were sent to the area and clashes broke out between officers and marchers, a few of which were apprehended for investigation.

 

Later Thursday, IDF forces rescued four marchers who had managed to cross the border fence into the northern Gaza Strip. Military sources said that the four climbed over the fence and walked a few dozen meters into Palestinian territory, which has not been under Israeli control since the disengagement.

 

"This was a serious act," a military source said. "These civilians endangered themselves and the forces that arrived to rescue them. This was irresponsible and an illegitimate protest."

 

The four civilians were transferred to police for treatment and may be detained. "The IDF is here to prevent terror attacks, the soldiers must not be distracted and put at risk," the source said, "If, heaven forbid, a soldier was injured on such a mission, it would be very hard to explain."

 

The march, which was attended by MKs Uri Ariel and Aryeh Eldad, headed off from Yad Mordechai junction south of Ashkelon and were blessed by Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu.


Evacuee on the march to Gush Katif (photo: Amir Cohen)

 

"When I saw the words 'going home' on Avi Farhan's (an Elei Sinai evacuee) shirt, I almost cried. I remember being at Avi Farhan's house and seeing the Ashkelon power station from it, and even then, I didn't understand how such a home could be destroyed," the rabbi said. 

 

Thursday afternoon a group headed by Farhan arrived at the ruins of Elei Sinai. Holding back his tears, Farhan said, "I am standing here looking at what was once Elei Sinai. It is very hard for me to look at this picture; it is hard for me to see these ruins. I can really visualize a map of all of our houses."

 

Demanding right of return 

Tzuri Ganish, another Elei Sinai evacuee, said, "I think that this is a historic move. Up until now they have been focusing on what is happening in Homesh and Samaria. From now on we will prove that we are beginning the move back home to Elei Sinai and Nisanit and the evacuated settlements.

 

"It won't take a day or two, or even a week or two, but it is a move that we will eventually be able to realize."

 

Ganish added that he and his friends occasionally walk along Zikim beach, and reminisce. "We reach the fence, stand there and look at Elei Sinai, and just cry," he said.


Security forces clash with evacuees Thursday (photo: Amir Cohen) 

 

Elhanan Cohen, from the former Neve Dekalim settlement also said he believes that Thursday's march was the beginning of the return home. "Today were are starting with a very small move, but I have no doubt that later on it will bring together more and more people and we will all be able to return to our settlements," he said.

 

MK Aryeh Eldad said at the march, "Today we express our demand for our right of return. Anyone who thinks that we will forget the homes from which Gaza residents were evicted, is fooling himself. Hundreds of youths are declaring that mistakes can be amended and are demanding to return home."

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.26.07, 18:32
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