Before the hotel evacuation, the army declared the Gush Katif settlement bloc in Gaza a closed military zone, to prevent more militant settlers from moving in. “Thousands will come and they will start to fight against all the military and all our soldiers in Gaza,” said Cabinet Minister Haim Ramon of the dovish Labor Party.
Under the closure order, only residents of Gaza will be able to enter and leave. The army chief of staff said Gaza will be reopened once quiet and stability are restored to the area.