Far-right Israelis protest against the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza: 'It's feeding the aggressor'

Supporters of Tsav 9, a far-right Israeli group, gathered Wednesday a few kilometers from the Kerem Shalom crossing on the border with the Gaza Strip to protest the entry of humanitarian aid into the devastated Palestinian territory.

The rally came after the Israeli government approved the entry of aid trucks after two months of not allowing essential supplies into the enclave.

Tsav 9 is a group founded in January 2024, composed of Israeli settlers, army reservists, and relatives of those kidnapped during the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

The protest was initially planned to take place at the border crossing itself, but authorities, who detained at least two protesters, prevented the demonstrators from approaching the border crossing.

Among them was Michael Raskas, who joined the rally to express his opposition to the government's decision to allow the entry of aid.

"What the Israeli government is doing is wrong, and it's also wrong that the international community wants to impose on us that, while our hostages remain held in Hamas dungeons, we must deliver food and fuel to our enemy," he told EFE.

"In no war throughout history has it been seen that those defending themselves also have to feed their aggressors, while our hostages remain kidnapped," he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel would allow a "minimal" flow of aid to Gaza, which has been under a complete blockade since early March, fearing that images of famine in the enclave would force Israel's allies to withdraw their military and diplomatic support for the country.

Some 470,000 people in Gaza—home to some two million people —face catastrophic famine , according to the World Food Programme.

For Raskas, the solution is simple: "Hamas should release the hostages. If they don't, we shouldn't give them anything," he said. With that, the war "is over in a minute," he added.

Another protester, Mark, 61, commented that crossing into Gaza not only means entering Hamas-controlled territory, but also involves crossing what he considers "the border of civilization," which Israel must protect.

"On October 7, it became clear that all (the inhabitants of Gaza) are terrorists or terrorist sympathizers," he told Efe. "If Europe is afraid to criticize Israel today for confronting a barbaric civilization, tomorrow they will find them at their own doorsteps," he warned.

The protest was countered by supporters of the Standing Together movement, which promotes unity between Israelis and Palestinians and advocates for an end to the conflict. Among them was Doron Muzett, who told Efe that most Israelis aren't really concerned about humanitarian aid, but simply want "the war to end."

"Only in the last week have local media started talking more about aid to Gaza. When you talk about an issue, you start to care more," he said.

The war erupted on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas attack on southern Israel, which left 1,218 dead, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official data.

The Islamists also kidnapped 251 people that day. Of these, 57 remain captive in Gaza, although 34 were declared dead by the Israeli army.

Israel's military retaliation campaign has claimed the lives of at least 53,592 people , most of them civilians, said the Gaza Health Ministry, which the UN considers reliable.