A host of ceremonies and activities mark the two-year anniversary of the expulsion of Jews from 21 flowering communities in Gush Katif, Gaza.  Eight shells were fired at one of the ceremonies; no one was hurt.



On Tuesday morning, mortar shells were fired at several dozen former Gush Katif residents who gathered at the Kisufim crossing into Gaza to recite the Tisha B'Av elegies.  Kisufim, which literally means "Yearnings," was the entrance to Gaza through which, ever since 1973, Gush Katif residents passed on their way to and from home.  The area bears great symbolic meaning to the expelled residents. 

A gathering was also held there the night before for a public reading of Eicha [The Book of Lamentations].

The expelled residents were sad to see a small plaque at the site remembering Gush Katif - but with no mention of the expulsion.  The plaque read, "Here IDF soldiers and Gush Katif residents lived and fought side by side for decades."  In handwriting, the residents added that this idyllic existence came to an end in the summer of 2005 when the government's soldiers forcibly evicted the residents from their homes and destroyed their communities.

10-Day Protest Ends

Also on Tisha B'Av, ten days of protests in Jerusalem by former Gush Katif farmers ended with a powerful Mincha prayer service.  "We felt uplifted, as if we were on a mission," one participant reported.  Inspiring addresses were delivered by Rabbi Elisha Vishlitzky, Shomron Regional Head Bentzi Lieberman and Gush Katif Leader Lior Kalfa.

The theme of the protests was: "Give Us Back What You Took!"  Some women held a three-day hunger strike, while others held signs reading, "Justice Demands: Give Back What you Took - Home, A Living, and Respect." 

Day-Long Event - Including Mortar Shells

On Wednesday, ex-residents of Gush Katif and the people of Sderot are taking part in a day-long event, including the dedication of a new Torah scroll, film clips of the expulsion, panel discussions, and more.  The events began at Kisufim, where the terrorists just over the fence in Gaza "smelled" them out and sent them a reminder of their days in Gush Katif: eight mortar shells.  No one was hurt, however.

The IDF said that two of the shells landed on the Israeli side of the fence. The IDF chose not to respond beyond its routine searches.

The events will continue in Netivot and Sderot. 

Song Festival

On Thursday evening, July 26, in Nitzan - where resides the largest concentration of expelled Gush Katif families as they wait for the government to re-house them - a giant Chassidic Song Festival will be held.  Among the performers will be Udi Davidi, Aharon Razel, Ariel Zilber and others.  Public personalities will speak against the injustice of the abandonment of the residents.

On Wednesday, August 8, at the Ein Tzurim temporary housing (caravillot) site of Netzer Hazani, a special exhibit of photos from Gush Katif days will be on display.  People from all over Israel are invited to meet with former residents, and special activities will be available for children.