Israeli ministers march to Gaza border demanding settlement return

Hundreds of people assembled near the border on Saturday as senior representatives of the international coalition announced a new initiative to reconstruct villages that were emptied in 2005 following a large‑scale evacuation. The gathering, organized by local civil‑society groups, included former residents, humanitarian workers and officials from the coalition’s reconstruction task force, who outlined a timetable for restoring housing, water infrastructure and basic services in the affected settlements.

Coalition officials said the program will be funded through a combination of donor contributions and private‑sector partnerships, with the first phase targeting the most severely damaged sites. They emphasized coordination with host‑government authorities and the involvement of displaced families in planning and implementation. The announcement follows months of advocacy by community leaders seeking redress for the prolonged displacement, and the coalition has pledged to begin field assessments within the next two weeks, aiming to commence construction before the end of the year.