Settlers, troops clash in Gaza
Dozens of youngsters prevent IDF vehicles from entering Gaza’s Kissufim road Sunday evening. Earlier, pullout objectors dispersed by police after attempting to prevent cement barriers from being placed in area
GAZA - Dozens of settlers blocked IDF vehicles from entering Gaza’s Kissufim road Sunday evening, as security forces clashed with youngsters in a bid to clear the area.
At one point, IDF Southern Command Head Dan Harel arrived at the scene and instructed commanders in the area, as the clashes continued.
Youngsters began flocking to the Kissufim checkpoint in early evening hours, with IDF soldiers and Border Guard police officers deploying along the road in a bid to prevent it from being blocked.
The teenagers tirelessly attempted to convince security forces to refuse orders, with a group of young settlers attaching itself to each soldier or police officer.
“They need to use their Jewish conscience and refuse the uprooting,” the settlers said.
Large forces dispatched to area
Clashes began after a civilian truck arrived in the area and began unloading cement barriers. The youngsters attempted to prevent the barriers from being placed in the area, but large forces were dispatched to the scene and allowed the truck driver to unload the barriers as planned.
The teenagers later blocked the entrance to the road. However, security forces promptly lost their patience and violent clashes quickly ensued, until police officers finally managed to clear the road.
Serious clashes between settlers and security had erupted in the Kissufim crossing on Saturday, with an IDF officer breaking his leg during the mayhem.
Moreover, a number of insubordinate soldiers refused to confront the settlers.
Brigadier-General Eyal Zamir told Ynet that 12 religious soldiers belonging to hesder yeshivas had disobeyed their commanders orders during the events at Kissufim, adding that three of them later complied with the orders.
“The protest began quietly, and then a handful of demonstrators resorted to violence against the security forces,” he said. “A number of people left their vehicles and climbed onto a tow truck and on the roadblock, which collapsed. They called on the soldiers to disobey orders.”
Last Wednesday, following the IDF’s closure of Gaza, security forces clashed with hundreds of pullout objectors that had blocked Kissufim road, which was reopened for traffic only at around 2 a.m.
One female officer, as well as a number of protesters, sustained light injuries during the riot.
