Israeli settlers march on Gaza demanding annexation and expulsion of Palestinians

Israeli settlers march on the ruins of Gaza: calls for annexation and expulsion of Palestinians gain momentum

The image of dozens of Israeli settlers heading to the ruins of Gaza is no symbolic excursion. The demonstrators, among them a settler of Russian origin who declared that Palestinians "should scatter across the world", have reignited the demand for the total annexation of the strip and the expulsion of its native population. The context is no coincidence: according to circulating figures, the deal pushed by the Trump administration promised an Israeli withdrawal from 100% of Gaza's territory, but to this day Israel occupies 70% and there are no signs of a pullback.

Two sides of the same coin

On one hand, annexation supporters argue that the land must remain under Israeli control and that the Palestinian population should be relocated, a stance echoed by radical sectors. On the other, those defending Palestinian rights point to UN resolutions and the ICC investigation that describes the situation as genocide. The gap is unbridgeable: while some appeal to a historical right, others point to illegal occupation and forced displacement.

Numbers that carry weight

The most striking figure in the debate is the discrepancy between what the Trumpstein deal promised —a total withdrawal— and the reality on the ground, with 70% occupied. The figure, cited by analysts, calls into question the viability of any negotiated solution. Meanwhile, the settler march reinforces the perception that the conflict is heading toward a de facto annexation.

Settler pressure is nothing new, but its arrival in the ruins of Gaza raises the stakes. It remains to be seen whether this standoff leads to a diplomatic escalation or whether, as has peine before, the Israeli establishment reins in the radicals to avoid triggering international isolation.