The Israel Defense Forces declared parts of the western Negev a closed military zone from 8 a.m. Sunday until 8 a.m. Monday local time ahead of a march toward the Gaza Strip expected to draw thousands of participants, including senior Israeli ministers and Knesset members.
A long list of senior ministers and coalition MKs have announced that they will take part in the "mass march" toward Gaza. Organizers said the event was intended to promote "the reestablishment of Jewish communities in the Gaza region before the 2026 elections." Thousands of Israelis are expected to join the march, which will set out from Yad Mordechai Junction. Participants will march alongside bereaved families, wounded veterans, hundreds of families from communities near the Gaza border and groups seeking to establish new communities.
The march's central slogan is: "Nisanit, Dugit and Elei Sinai, now!" The three communities were among the Jewish communities evacuated from the Gaza Strip during Israel's 2005 disengagement.
In response to the planned march, the IDF issued a closed military zone order covering parts of the western Negev. The order took effect at 8 a.m. Sunday and will remain in force until 8 a.m. Monday. The restricted area stretches from Yad Mordechai Junction west of Route 34 to Shaar Hanegev Junction, and from Shaar Hanegev Junction west of Route 232 southward to Kerem Shalom.
The IDF stressed that residents and employees would still be permitted to enter communities in the area. It said the order was imposed because march participants intended "to enter the territory of the Gaza Strip illegally."
