Israeli officers distributed letters Monday afternoon to Gaza Strip settlers telling them their presence in there will be considered illegal as of August 15, at which point the Israeli army will act to evacuate them. The letter also informed settlers all border crossings into the Gaza Strip will be closed, and that from that time only security forces will be permitted to enter the Strip.
It said the army and evacuation forces would be available to assist settlers leave their homes on August 15 and 16, but that they would not start evicting people until August 17.
In response, senior rabbis in Gaza Strip called on those slated to be evacuated to remain in their homes "until the end," beyond the deadline set by the army. Most of the settlers are expected to adhere to the rabbis' call.
"We stand before critical and decisive moments," settler rabbi Yigal Kamintzky wrote, according to Haaretz. "Let us not bow our heads. The nation of Israel needs us here today as strong and fierce as ever, because we are the heart and the foundation of the struggle."
Meanwhile, on Monday night Israeli troops shot and killed a 17-year-old Palestinian in a refugee camp near the West Bank town of Tulkarem, officials said. A group of youths threw stones and fire bombs at three army jeeps patrolling the area. The soldiers fired in the air and toward the youths, killing one and wounding another, witnesses said.
