'Gaza belongs to us!': As Israel votes, settlers set up camp on the border of the Palestinian enclave

Members of the far-right organization NACHALA raise flags as the Gaza Strip lies behind them, at the outpost set up on the Gaza border, in the Simhoni Forest (Israel), October 26, 2026. LAURENCE GEAI/MYOP FOR LE MONDE In the distance, lights from Israeli military bases inside Gaza were visible, along with the ghostly silhouette of the ruins of Jabaliya, the largest refugee camp in Gaza City, reduced to ruins by Israeli forces following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel.

As dusk fell on Monday, October 26, muffled gunfire and explosions still rang out. "Aren't the children afraid?" someone asked. "They're used to it," replied Hadar Bar Hai, 37, who is expecting her tenth child, without hesitation. She is among the 20 families that have been living for about 10 days on the heights of the Simhoni Forest in southern Israel, less than a kilometer from the fence surrounding Gaza. This is territory coveted by the group of settlers who erected an illegal outpost here – "temporarily," they insisted – intending to cross over and settle on the other side one day.

"We don't know how long it will take, but we are ready," Hadar said confidently. You have 81.89% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.