Over 80,000 Israelis poured into the Gaza Strip's main Jewish settlement bloc Wednesday to protest the planned withdrawal from the area Israel occupied in 1967.
A mortar shell fired Wednesday by Palestinians struck near a playground during the rally, slightly injuring an Israeli soldier with shrapnel. Organizers vowed to continue the protest meant as a show of support for settlers being uprooted from the area Israel has occupied for 38 years.
Emily Amrussi, a spokeswoman for the settlers, said after the rocket attack that the event would go on.
Some settler leaders have expressed hope the protesters would stay in Gaza Strip to resist the withdrawal.
Early Wednesday, Israeli authorities closed the main crossing into the "Gush Katif" bloc of settlements to private cars, allowing only buses through.
