Gush Katif

Pollard to Arutz Sheva:

Polls are wrong, Israelis want to return to Gaza

In an Arutz Sheva interview at the Knesset, Jonathan Pollard says Israelis favor resettling Gaza, urging decisive leadership and an Israel-first policy on security.

22 years later:

Chief of Staff comes full circle at terror victim's wedding

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends wedding of Chabad emissary’s son, recalls miracle survival.

Former IDF Chief of Staff:

I learned of the Gaza Disengagement Plan from the newspaper

Then IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon recounts how he learn the details of the plan to uproot Jews from the Gaza Strip while reading the Haaretz newspaper.

We sow with tears, but we will reap with joy!

Returning and renewing the Jewish presence in Judea, Samaria and Yerushalayim b’simcha with Nachala, The Gush Katif Forum and Ateret Cohanim.

Salt of the earth series:

Dvir Lisha HY"D: First Swords of Iron soldier buried on Mt. Herzl

Dvir Lisha HY"D was a victim of the Katif Disengagement at the age of 3 when his family was expelled from their home, and, tragically, also a victim of its results when he was killed, fighting heroically on October 7th at Gaza's Zikim shore.

In Depth:

The disengagement from Gush Katif

A special memorial report on the occasion of twenty years since the Disengagement Plan went into effect in 2005.

Twenty years since the disengagement:

I watched from afar, now I live its consequences

Then I was sitting in New York...now I live in Israel. Opinion.

Agam and dancing around the Golden Calf

Leave out one "dot" of the Torah, one dot of Eretz Yisrael (the Holy Land), and you violate the Covenant.

Disengagement:

When the IDF left the writing was already on the wall

Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs drew a connection between the Disengagement from Gush Katif and the current war, stating: 'We learned the hard way, hopefully we've woken up.'

The Fall of the Last Jewish Town in Gush Katif

Arutz Sheva TV documented the sights and sounds of the destruction of this once flourishing community and the expulsion of the Jews living there.

‘We’re going back’:

Gush Katif evictee dreams of Jewish return to Gaza

Twenty years after the Disengagement, Anita Tucker calls for a renewed Jewish presence in Gaza, as the key to true security for Israel.

Tzvi Hendel:

'Jewish presence in Gaza would have prevented Oct. 7 massacre'

Head of the Gaza Coast Regional Council and former MK Tzvi Hendel still feels the pain of betrayal by late Ariel Sharon and remains optimistic that Jews will return to live in Gush Katif.

Remembering the struggle for Gush Katif

Moetzet Yesha and the Gush Katif Community Council adopted a non-belligerent protest campaign marked by the slogan, “With Love We Will Win.” The campaign was highlighted by human chains of passive protest. Op-ed.

Twenty Years Later:

Gush Katif evacuee plans rebirth of the region

Anita Tucker, who was evicted from Gush Katif, told JNS about her drive to rebuild the region after the war.

Rami Davidian: 'Flatten Gaza and build for massacre survivors'

Rami Davidian, who rescued dozens from the Nova Festival massacre, says that if Gush Katif had remained, October 7th would not have happened as the Jewish communities there were our protection.

Smotrich:

'We must rebuild Gush Katif even bigger'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated that the war offers a unique opportunity to reverse the Disengagement.

20 Years Later:

Gush Katif Rabbis return to the Gaza region

Gush Katif Rabbis visited Sderot and the surrounding communities to mark 20 years since the Disengagement.

Jack Engelhard:

Does the snake deserve another chance?

Twenty years ago, Israelis were expelled from their thriving communities in Gush Katif. The Palestinian Arabs took over this good earth and trashed it for rockets, tunnels, warfare, terrorism, and barbarism. Let them govern? Forget it. Opinion.

In photos:

IDF troops reach destroyed Jewish community of Shalev

Photos obtained by Arutz Sheva show the remains of Shalev, a Jewish community that was uprooted in the disengagement from Gaza.

Minister Regev:

I will work to restore Jewish communities in Gaza

During the Besheva and Arutz Sheva Jerusalem Conference Minister Miri Regev, who served as IDF Spokeswoman during the forced evacuation of Jews from the Gaza Strip, called to reverse the move.

Peace Now campaign:

'We won't die for settlements'

The far-left organization launched a campaign against Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip with a giant billboard at the entrance to Jerusalem.

19 years later: Gaza ReJEWvenation - why not?

Going back to Gaza in mind, heart and on the ground. How could we not do otherwise? Opinion.

During a meeting in Rafah

Rabbi to Chief of Staff: 'I'm from here, from Gush Katif'

Cpt. (Res.) Rabbi Itzik Amitai met IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and shared that seven of his immediate family members were serving in the Gaza Strip.

New lobby seeks to cancel Disengagement Law for Gush Katif

Samaria governor Yossi Dagan and several MKs hope to bring the cancellation to a vote at the beginning of the next session of Knesset.

Netanyahu:

Jewish civilian presence in Gaza: 'Not realistic'

In his first interview with the Israeli press since the war in Gaza began, Prime Minister Netanyahu said the war in Gaza is winding down.

Bezalel Smotrich:

'Our heroic soldiers are destroying Hamas and will conquer Gaza'

The Finance Minister promised the return of Jewish civilian life in the Gaza Strip, claiming the government intends for there to be long-term Israeli military control over the area, 'There is no precedent for military control without civilian presence.'

Needed: Justice

The ground has not settled in Israel, our spirits are not at peace, and the blood of our victims cries out for justice. Op-ed.

The 3rd solution for Gaza is the one that can work

Read on to find out what the three suggested solutions for the day after the war are - and why the only one that can work is the third. Opinion.

Liberman:

'Netanyahu wants peace with Saudis and to retire'

According to MK Avigdor Liberman, the Prime Minister wants to have a deal with Saudi Arabia by October, and for the US to be part of the deal before the elections it has to happen by June.

Otzma Yehudit Minister:

'Resettling Gush Katif - not at all costs'

Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu explained his plan for distributing aid in Gaza: 'Whoever wants to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians must do it under the IDF’s supervision.'

'Part of future Palestinian state'

UK against plans for Jewish 'resettlement of Gaza'

The UK Foreign Office published a statement expressing alarm over the conference held in Jerusalem which called to restore Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip.

Report:

Gallant promised US not to let Jews return to Gaza

During a meeting with US Ambassador and Envoy for Humanitarian Affairs, the Defense Minister stressed the buffer zone would be temporary and for security purposes only.

Tzvi Hendel to Arutz Sheva:

'Solution to Gaza is to rebuild Jewish communities'

Former head of the Gaza Coast Council, Tzvi Hendel, supports the re-establishment of Jewish communities in Gaza, but estimates that this will not happen in the near future, due to a lack of public consensus.

Smotrich at 'Victory Conference':

'Without settlement, there will be no security'

Minister Bezalel Smotrich: We have to decide - do we once again run away from terrorism or do we settle the land, control it, fight terrorism and bring security to the entire State of Israel.

Minister Ben Gvir to PM:

Role of brave leadership is to make brave decisions

Minister Ben Gvir spoke at the Victory Conference: 'Running away results in war; Now is the time to return to Gush Katif and Northern Samaria'

19 years later:

Reservist raises flag he lowered leaving Gush Katif

The IDF reservist who lowered the last Israeli flag of the IDF leaving Gaza raised the very same flag again today in Khan Younis.

'The heart beats':

Gush Katif evictee finds out what happened to home

Rabbi Kobi Bornstein was moved to see a photo of an abandoned plot of land, on which once sat his home in Neve Dekalim.

This is what some Gush Katif towns look like today

IDF reservist shares drone photos showing ruins of Gush Katif towns with Arutz Sheva - Israel National News.

'Sowing Sovereignty in Gaza' - in the Gush Katif Museum

Sovereignty Movement hosts seminar in Gush Katif Museum, aiming to imbue future Israeli leadership with awareness of heartland's importance.

Demanding return to Gaza

Festive candle lighting mid sea opposite Gaza

Daniella Weiss: "Today, more than ever, it is clear that Jewish communities in Gaza are no longer just a solution, but a necessity "

Watch: Torah scroll in the ruins of a Gush Katif synagogue

Armored Corps Battalion 9215 brings Torah scroll to site where Netzarim synagogue once stood.

IDF troops find Ferris wheel built on Gush Katif synagogue

Soldiers moving into the Gaza Strip found a surprising sight when they reached what was once the town of Netzarim.

Jewish communities around the world call for Jews to settle Gaza

Heads of Jewish communities and organizations from around the world are calling for Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip.

Israel should Re-establish the 22 Communities of Gush Katif

The towns that were “dis-engaged” were the frontlines protecting the South. Opinion.

Hamas: Withdrawal from Gush Katif was a turning point

A Hamas newspaper published an interview reviews the organization's advancements since Israel left Gush Katif.

Gush Katif evictees recite Tisha B'Av prayers at Gaza border

Dozens of displaced residents from Gush Katif in the Gaza Strip came to the Kissufim crossing at the Gaza border on Tisha B'av eve.

18 years after eviction:

Displaced Gush Katif residents build new synagogue

The former residents of Kfar Darom see a unique significance in the destroyed town's synagogue, where a standoff took place in 2005.

A plea from the brother of Elkana, who fell in battle

Stand silent tomorrow in the cemetery, as we did when our brother was reburied at Mt.Herzl after the Gush Katif expulsion. In their honor.

The mystery behind Ariel Sharon's 'disengagement'

He was a great general but he knew little and cared less about Jews, 23 years before the expulsion, someone tried to warn us. Op-ed.

The story behind the passion for Israel Court reform

Supreme Court critics cite its striking down Knesset laws on infiltrators, the draft,and terrorists. But there are deeper failures. Op-ed.

Talmud completed to mark anniversary of synagogues' burning

Seventeen years since Gaza Arabs burned Gush Katif synagogues, residents of the town of Neta hold ceremony marking completion of the Talmud.

From flourishing Jewish town to Hamas training camp

Viewers who watched the recent Hamas promotional video were dismayed to see that the terror group is training on the ruins of a Jewish town.

Jerusalem girls school repaints iconic Homesh water tower

The Reishit girls school from Jerusalem repainted the bright orange water towers that have come to symbolize the struggle for Homesh.

Likud MK: 'We can govern without demeaning'

'Think twice before you vote - during the Disengagement people didn't want to make waves with Ariel Sharon,' Likud MK Yuli Edelstein says.

Exclusive interview with commander of Yamit eviction

General Oded Tira looks back on his time presiding over the evictions of Israeli citizens from Yamit and Gush Katif.

Gaza: Why not?

Going back to Gush Katif in mind, heart & on the ground. A special event on the occasion of the 16th anniversary of the Expulsion from Gush.

Watch: Uprooting of Netzarim

16 years ago, Arutz Sheva accompanied residents of last community to be uprooted from Gush Katif in those difficult moments.

Here is what “peace” looks like for the Jewish State

Israel is at war every day. Even when hundreds of rockets become thousands, it counts as news only when Israel fights back. Op-ed.

Frmr head rabbi of Gush Katif: 'Crucial elections'

Former head rabbi of Gush Katif believes upcoming elections will 'determine Jewish character of the State of Israel.'

The Daily Portion / Far away from the spotlight: Two great men

One does not have to be famous to leave your imprint on this earth.