Israel began its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip on Monday, but while some settlers were resigned to their fate, the mood in other settlements was defiant, prompting tense stand-offs with security forces.
As the evacuation got under way, the Israeli Cabinet, meeting in Jerusalem, voted 16-4 to approve the second stage of the pull-out, which includes the evacuation of settlements in the Gush Katif block in the south of the Strip.
The first phase of the pull-out was approved last week.
Israeli soldiers and police officers fanned out throughout the Gaza Strip early on Monday with the intention of handing out notices informing residents they will receive ”all possible assistance” if they evacuate by Wednesday’s deadline.
While residents of some mainly secular settlements accepted the notices, other settlers barricaded their gates, prompting tense stand-offs in the sweltering heat.
The main, albeit non-violent, confrontation took place at Neveh Dekelim, Gush Katif’s largest settlement, where scores of settlers blocked the entry of security forces through the main gate.
Some of the approximately 100-strong force of soldiers and police managed to enter the settlement through a nearby industrial area, but left after talks with settlement leaders.
Later, Neveh Dekelim officials agreed to open the settlement gate and the security forces moved back to form a line across the road.
A similar stand-off took place at Netzer Hazini, a few kilometres to the north, where settlers also barricaded their settlement.
”We will not let them in under any circumstances,” a settler leader told a crowd of singing and dancing settlers in front of the main gate, while appealing for non-violent resistance.
Here, as in Neveh Dekelim, the police negotiated with settler leaders before agreeing to retreat.
Opposition to receiving the evacuation orders was also reported in other areas, including in one of four West Bank settlements that are also scheduled to be evacuated as part of the pullout.
It was unclear on Monday afternoon how the military intended to proceed. Officials said the evacuation was proceeding as planned, although at a slower pace than had been forecast.
Yet, as the operation was just getting under way, Israeli authorities said that, due to opposition from settlers, they would not enter the settlements of Netzarim, Kfar Darom, Azmona and Katif.
Instead of forcing the issue, the army decided not to clash with settlers, a military spokesperson in Tel Aviv said.
The evacuation of the 21 settlements, which marks the beginning of the end of Israel’s 38-year occupation of the Gaza Strip, came into force at midnight on Sunday when Israel closed the Kissufim crossing point on the border of the Strip.
The approximately 8 000 settlers have 48 hours to leave, after which they will be removed by force, if necessary. Some settlers had already left before the operation started.
Others had vowed to remain, bolstered by an estimated 5 000 pull-out opponents who infiltrated Gush Katif in the weeks and days before the withdrawal began.
Israel has deployed more than 20 000 troops to carry out the disengagement. — Sapa-DPA