By: Fern Sidman

As Israel commemorates twenty years since the unilateral Disengagement from Gush Katif, the former bloc of Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip, reflections on its legacy remain charged with emotion and controversy. For Tzvi Hendel—former Knesset member and today Head of the Gaza Coast Regional Council—the memory of those years is not confined to the trauma of expulsion, but to a vision of renewal and eventual return.

In a reflective conversation with Israel National News (INN), Hendel emphasized his determination to look forward, even while acknowledging the scars left behind. “Thank God, I do not remember the evacuation—I remember Gush Katif,” Hendel said. “Gush Katif was filled with beauty, with incredible landscapes and exceptional people. It was a place of goodness. There was a struggle, certainly, but I try to leave that behind.”

The Disengagement plan, implemented in August 2005 under then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, led to the evacuation of over 8,000 residents from 21 Jewish communities in Gaza and four in northern Samaria. Hendel, a long-standing representative of the Gush Katif community, has long maintained that the decision represented a profound political miscalculation.

Speaking to INN, he pointed to what he described as the national camp’s critical mistake: endorsing Sharon for leadership. “The great error of the right was in backing Arik Sharon, of blessed memory. We failed to grasp that he would one day uproot the very communities he helped to build,” Hendel reflected.

He recalled the abrupt shift in Sharon’s stance with deep personal disappointment. “Arik Sharon would often visit my home on Fridays. He would bring guests and proudly show them the value of the communities. But when the Disengagement plan emerged, suddenly I was no longer able to meet him. I was told he refused. At that moment, I understood the truth.”

For Hendel, the memory of October 7, 2023—the day of the Hamas onslaught on southern Israel that killed over 1,200 people—only sharpens his conviction that dismantling Gush Katif paved the way for disaster. As he told Israel National News, “If Gush Katif had not been dismantled, October 7 would not have occurred. With a permanent Jewish presence, IDF operations and Shin Bet activity would have continued.”

In his view, the absence of Jewish settlements and military infrastructure in Gaza created the conditions for Hamas’s entrenchment. “The only viable solution for Gaza is robust, expansive, and successful settlement—and that will happen,” Hendel stated. He expressed confidence that a return to Gush Katif is not a matter of if, but when.

Far from a nostalgic longing, Hendel’s vision of return is framed as a national project. He told INN that he hopes such a move would one day enjoy “national consensus and the understanding of the broader public.” Hendel emphasized that the restoration of Jewish life in Gaza would not be a partisan endeavor but one rooted in collective security and historical justice.

“I am confident that we will return to Gush Katif with God’s help,” he said. “I believe we will persuade some nations to accept those who once lived alongside us, so that we may return to this extraordinary region, which rightfully belongs to us.”

The 20th anniversary of the Disengagement has prompted a renewed reckoning across Israeli society. According to coverage by Israel National News, many of the evacuees continue to face challenges integrating into new communities, while debates rage over whether the decision advanced or undermined Israel’s long-term security. Hendel’s words reflect one of the most enduring critiques of the policy: that relinquishing territory once populated by Israelis facilitated Hamas’s rise and ultimately led to the catastrophic events of October 7.

For Hendel, however, the ultimate lesson of Gush Katif lies in resilience and vision. As he told INN, the memory of the thriving communities that once stood there continues to guide him—not as a relic of the past, but as a blueprint for the future.

Timeline: From Gush Katif to October 7

2005 – The Disengagement

August 2005: Israel implements then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s unilateral Disengagement Plan.

8,000+ residents from 21 Jewish communities in Gush Katif and four in northern Samaria are evacuated.

Israel withdraws all military forces from the Gaza Strip.

Sharon insists the move will increase Israel’s security and international standing.

2006–2007 – Hamas Consolidates Power

January 2006: Hamas wins a majority in Palestinian legislative elections.

June 2007: After violent clashes with rival Fatah forces, Hamas seizes full control of Gaza.

Israel and Egypt impose a partial blockade, citing security concerns over weapons smuggling.

2008–2014 – Repeated Escalations

2008–2009: Operation Cast Lead – Israel launches a three-week offensive after sustained rocket fire from Gaza.

2012: Operation Pillar of Defense – Eight-day conflict between Israel and Hamas.

2014: Operation Protective Edge – A 50-day war, sparked by Hamas rocket attacks and the kidnapping/murder of three Israeli teens.

2015–2020 – Growing Capabilities

Hamas invests heavily in building an extensive underground tunnel system for smuggling and attacks.

Iran expands its financial and military support for Hamas, providing advanced weaponry and training.

Periodic rounds of violence continue, including mass “March of Return” protests along the Gaza-Israel border in 2018.

2021 – Operation Guardian of the Walls

May 2021: Escalation begins with Hamas firing rockets at Jerusalem during tensions over Sheikh Jarrah.

Eleven days of intense fighting leave over 4,000 rockets fired at Israel.

Widespread rioting occurs in mixed Israeli cities, marking a new internal challenge.

2022–2023 – Fragile Calm and Warning Signs

Sporadic rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes continue, with Hamas consolidating control while Islamic Jihad also grows in influence.

Israeli intelligence warns of Hamas’s expanding arsenal and complex operational planning.

October 7, 2023 – The Hamas Massacre

Hamas launches a massive surprise assault on southern Israel, breaching the border, massacring over 1,200 people, and abducting more than 250 hostages.

The attack is the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

Israel launches a full-scale war in Gaza, vowing to dismantle Hamas’s military and governing capabilities.

2024–2025 – War and Debate

Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza, with international pressure mounting.

National discourse reignites over the legacy of the Disengagement, with many linking the removal of Gush Katif to Hamas’s rise.

Figures such as Tzvi Hendel, speaking to Israel National News (INN), call for eventual resettlement of Gush Katif as both a moral imperative and a strategic necessity.