The order took effect at 8:00 AM Sunday and will last until 8:00 AM Monday. Residents and workers in the area may pass, but the aim is to prevent buses and vehicle convoys from reaching the Gaza border as part of planned protests, according to reports.
The 24-hour closure order declared by the IDF Southern Command took effect at 08:00 Sunday, sealing large parts of the Gaza envelope as a closed military zone to prevent buses and vehicle convoys from reaching the border as part of a planned protest march. The order, effective until 08:00 Monday, came hours after the military announced the measure at 06:03 Jerusalem, citing fears that participants would breach the security fence and enter the Gaza Strip.
In a series of announcements beginning at 06:03 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that the IDF Southern Command under Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor signed the order, covering the area west of Route 34 from the Yad Mordechai junction to Sha'ar HaNegev, and west of Route 232 to Kerem Shalom. Residents and workers may enter their communities, but mass movement is restricted. The military stated that the closure is intended to prevent the "March of the Thousands," a rally organized by the Nahala movement that aims to promote Jewish settlement in Gaza. Version 12 of the story noted that the march is expected to include cabinet members, ministers, and senior Knesset members. Earlier versions (versions 3–11) detailed the specific boundaries and the rationale, including the IDF's concern over a possible border breach. By 06:03, at least 12 updates had been published, each refining the scope of the closure as the military provided more details.
As The Zioneer reported, such closures are standard procedure when large protests are anticipated near the security fence. The rally is scheduled to begin at 17:00 on Monday, and the military has been preparing to block it. The Nahala movement has previously organized efforts to enter the Gaza Strip, and the IDF has repeatedly imposed similar orders.
It remains unclear whether the march will proceed in defiance of the closure, and how many participants will attempt to reach the border. No statement from the organizers has been published since the order took effect.
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