On October 21, 2024, an ultranationalist Conference for the renewal of Jewish settlement in Gaza held near the Gaza border, in Otef, not far of Kibbutz Be'eri in Israel, under the leadership of Otzma Yehudit and the Likuds. At a Sukkot-themed gathering, settlers and far-right leaders outlined plans to reestablish Jewish settlements in the Strip 'within a year. Several high-ranking Israeli ministers and political figures called for reestablishing Jewish settlements in Gaza and encouraging Palestinian emigration. The event, dubbed "Preparing to Settle Gaza," was organized by the Nachala Settlement Movement and attended by members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and other far-right political figures.

The conference was a significant display of Israel’s far-right commitment to settlement expansion, with prominent figures like Ben Gvir, Smotrich, and Weiss advocating for the reestablishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza and the removal of Palestinians from the area.

This conference was stopped during the day due to a security alert. The police forces and the IDF evacuated the citizens from the place.

Key Figures and Their Speeches:

Itamar Ben Gvir - National Security Minister:

Ben Gvir, a far-right politician, argued that the "most ethical" solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was to "encourage emigration" of Palestinians from Gaza. He described this as a peaceful alternative that should not be done "by force" but by offering Palestinians the option to leave Gaza for other countries. He emphasized, "The Land of Israel is ours," promoting the idea that Jewish settlement should be reestablished in Gaza for security reasons. Ben Gvir’s speech was one of the central addresses at the conference.

Bezalel Smotrich - Finance Minister:

Smotrich, another prominent far-right figure, also advocated for rebuilding Jewish settlements in Gaza. Speaking before the conference, he stated that "without settlements, there is no security" and that Gaza is "part of the Land of Israel." He linked the relinquishment of land to increased danger, claiming that territory previously ceded by Israel had become "Iranian forward terror bases." Smotrich noted that discussions about settlements should take place "after the war," but expressed support for the idea as part of a broader plan for post-war rebuilding and security.

May Golan - Minister of Social Equality and Advancement of the Status of Women:

Golan, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, argued at the conference that the "taking of territory" from Palestinians is what "hurts them most." She declared that reestablishing Jewish settlements in Gaza would be critical to Israel’s security, echoing the broader sentiment of the event that territorial control is crucial to defeating Palestinian resistance.

Daniella Weiss - Veteran Settler Leader and Organizer:

Weiss, a key figure in the settlement movement, went further, essentially calling for ethnic cleansing of Gaza. She proclaimed that after the October 7 massacre, "Gazans had lost their right to live in the territory" and that they "will not stay here." She argued that Israel should convince the world that Palestinians must leave Gaza, essentially advocating for their forced relocation. Weiss emphasized that "we came here to settle the entire Gaza Strip, from north to south, not just part of it," and revealed that Nachala had already formed six settlement groups comprising 700 families ready to establish new settlements.

Avichay Buaron, Tali Gotliv, Ariel Kallner - Likud Members of Knesset:

These Likud MKs attended the conference, backing the calls for resettlement and endorsing the idea that settlements provide security. Kallner, in particular, stated that "settlements are total victory" and that what Palestinians view as "Dar Islam" would become "Dar Yahud" (House of Jews), reinforcing the ideological message of reclaiming land for Jewish sovereignty.

Haim Waltzer - Former Resident of Gush Katif Settlements in Gaza:

Waltzer, who had been evacuated from Gaza in 2005 under the Gaza Disengagement Plan, shared his belief that settling Gaza was the only way to bring peace. He argued that Palestinians only care about land and that by taking it away and resettling Jews, "they will feel defeated." Waltzer also echoed Ben Gvir’s policy of encouraging emigration for Palestinians, suggesting that their departure would bring quiet and peace to Israel.

Oved Hugi - Likud Party Leader in Yad Eliyahu, Tel Aviv:

Hugi advocated for a more radical approach, suggesting that northern Gaza should be taken from Palestinians and allocated to Israeli communities along the Gaza border. He supported controlling key areas like the Philadelphi Corridor to prevent Hamas from rearming. Hugi remarked that "The Arabs must lose territory in the war, so that they remember that they lost," calling for a punitive strategy of territorial loss for Palestinians as a deterrent.

Conference Themes:

The conference was heavily attended by members of the religious-Zionist community and included workshops led by activists on how to establish new settlements, mirroring previous efforts by Nachala in the West Bank. Musicians and dancers added a celebratory atmosphere to the event, which many attendees viewed as a reaffirmation of their ideological commitment to settlement expansion.

The speeches were characterized by a shared belief that Jewish settlements in Gaza would enhance Israel’s security and that the only way to ensure lasting peace was to remove Palestinian control of the land. The overarching narrative was that settlement is both a religious and security imperative, grounded in a belief that the Land of Israel is Jewish by biblical right and that territorial loss is the ultimate punishment for Palestinians.

Opposition:

The event faced opposition from anti-government protesters, including residents of Gaza border communities, who decried the timing of the conference while hostages were still being held by Hamas. Police prevented protesters from entering the event area.

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