‘Only the IDF can protect us’: Gaza border residents protest deployment of BoP's Gaza force

Activists and residents from Gaza border communities staged a protest near Amitai Camp on Tuesday, calling for a halt to the deployment of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in the Strip. Some of these demonstrators had witnessed the October 7 massacre firsthand. The protesters argued that only an Israeli security force - the IDF - can safeguard the region from further attacks. Shosh Moshe, a resident from Moshav Yesha, emphasized the importance of IDF protection, stating, "Only the IDF can protect us."

The ISF's presence has raised alarm among residents due to recent kite-launched attacks from Gaza, which resulted in damage in Israel. Protesters expressed their frustration, saying, "We will not allow others to protect us while Hamas celebrates the aftermath." As ISF vehicles headed towards the Kerem Shalom Crossing, police and IDF soldiers formed a security perimeter around the site.

To ensure the safety of the protesters who temporarily blocked the road, ISF trucks returning from the crossing were instructed to reduce their speed.

The demonstrators carried Israeli flags and banners with messages such as "Stop Hamas's rehabilitation, ensure the security of residents in the South," "The roadmap is dangerous for Israel," and "Stop the entry of foreign forces into the Strip." They emphasized that they are representing the will of the people and warned that Hamas should not control the Strip.

Yishai Spaz, a field director for the Security for the Gaza Envelope movement, stressed the need to prevent Hamas from profiting from the recently returned supply trucks, stating, "If we do not stop these aid trucks, this assistance to terrorism will continue."