Why Israel must reverse the 2005 Gaza withdrawal, resettle Gush Katif – opinion

An opinion piece argues that Israel must reverse the 2005 Gaza withdrawal and resettle Gush Katif, asserting that this is the necessary response to the October 7 attacks. The author contends that the 2005 expulsion, which uprooted 21 Jewish communities and over 8,000 residents, was a catastrophic error that led to Hamas's rise and subsequent attacks. The article highlights Gaza's ancient Jewish history, stating, "Gaza is not foreign soil. Jewish history there stretches back more than three millennia." It proposes that a permanent Jewish presence would create strategic depth, reinforce Israeli control, and serve as a concrete, irreversible price for Hamas's aggression, ensuring that "Every assault on Israel will strengthen rather than diminish the Jewish hold on the Land of Israel." The author notes growing support for resettlement among Israeli politicians and the public, urging the government to seize this opportunity to correct past mistakes and achieve a strategic victory.