On Sunday morning the Israel Defense Forces restricted access around the Gaza Strip to non-residents ahead of a planned Nahala movement march set for 5:00 p.m.

The restricted military area runs from the Yad Mordechai junction west of Highway 34 to the Sha'ar Hanegev junction, continuing west of Highway 232 toward the Kerem Shalom region.

Entry along the border fence is also barred for demonstrators.

The closure remains in force from 8:00 a.m. Sunday until the same hour Monday.

The event called Thousands March to Gaza carries the slogan After 21 years we are returning home in reference to the 2005 Gush Katif disengagement.

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 are all expected to take part.

Golan urged the public to attend and stated that settlement equals security.

Members of Knesset Limor Son Har-Melech of Otzma Yehudit, Almog Cohen of Otzma Yehudit, Simcha Rothman of the Religious Zionist Party, and Zvi Sukkot of the Religious Zionist Party are also slated to join.

The Nahala movement which has recruited supporters online in recent days is accompanied by bereaved families including Eliav Libi father of David Libi who was killed in May 2025 while performing engineering tasks for the IDF.

Libi encouraged supporters to gather at the Yad Mordechai junction and said everyone come because we must return home.

Nahala movement organizes march, crossings into Gaza

Since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023 the Nahala movement has staged several similar marches toward Gaza with the latest occurring in February and December.

In February roughly 1,500 participants assembled along the border to walk into the Strip and plant trees near the ruins of Nisanit.

Groups proceeded toward the Black Arrow monument and other paths while carrying Israeli flags and saplings to express backing for renewed Jewish settlement as a route to security according to organizers.

The IDF at that time condemned the march and positioned troops along with Israel Police officers to stop civilians from reaching the fence or crossing.

In December a Nahala group crossed into Gaza before being escorted back by IDF troops a second crossing attempt occurred at another section of the fence.

Shir Perets and Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.