In one of his first news briefs today, site operator Moti Sender - a resident of Ganei Tal for 27 years - wrote as follows:
"The vision of Katif.net was to tell the story of Gush Katif, and how it grew and developed. In these days of destruction and ruin, Katif.net directs the readers to other internet sites that are happy to tell the story of the destruction. We are unable to do so. We will continue, with G-d's help, to report on the new construction of many new Gush Katifs, healthy and strong, throughout the State of Israel."
An earlier report of this morning read as follows:
"Yesterday at 6:30 PM, after an inspiring prayer service in the synagogue in Ganei Tal, we - the Sender family - left Ganei Tal for the last time. We left in a family convoy, a van loaded with boxes dragging behind it a filled-to-the-brim [U-haul] cart, and another car, and then we walked towards Moshav Katif. Many army convoys passed us as we walked along, including buses filled with expulsion forces, trucks with horses, policemen in new cars, water cannons, and all sorts of other ills...
"Policemen and soldiers looked at us and lowered their faces; it wasn't easy for them to see the sight of an entire family walking for the last time in Gush Katif, where we have lived for 27 years... At the Kisufim Crossing, two soldiers awaited us. The officer asked us for our details and then gave us a certificate confirming that we had left Gush Katif, enabling us to be recognized as Gush Katif refugees.
"It's very hard to leave a home, very hard. But with G-d's help, we will overcome it."
"Along the way north, we saw signs reading, 'We are with you in your pain,' 'We appreciate what you did,' 'With you the whole way,' and many others. We greatly appreciate the hanging of these signs..."
At 10:36 this morning, Moti Sender wrote,
"At 9 AM this morning, I received a phone call from my son who remained in our beautiful large house in Ganei Tal. In a voice choked with tears, he told us, 'You were right in not remaining here. It's simply horrifying to see the disgrace of expulsion forces marching around our town in threes. It's really frightening to think that these are IDF soldiers.'
"An hour later, I received another call from my son, who said that the soldiers had entered the house to take us out. He turned on the speakerphone, and with a pained and wounded heart, I gave them a heartfelt message - which they heard and understood clearly. The commander responded with great emotion, and promised to remain in contact with us in the future..."