At the Kisufim checkpoint in the Gaza Strip on Sunday evening, about a thousand opponents of the withdrawal of Jewish settlements from Palestinian territories held a protest, Ha'aretz reports.

Demonstrators lay down in the middle of the road passing through the checkpoint, thus obstructing the movement of traffic. After the police and military tried to push the protesters away from the roadway, some of the opponents of the withdrawal of settlements began to behave aggressively, engaging in a scuffle with the military.

As a result, the police arrested two of the most active demonstrators, and several others received minor injuries. Help for the victims was provided at the scene.

On Sunday, police banned a march by opponents of the withdrawal of troops and settlements to Gaza. The message about the cancellation of this event appeared immediately after a meeting between a representative of the settlers and the Israeli police chief. The parties failed to agree on the coordination of security measures during the march.

In addition, law enforcement officials fear that tens of thousands of demonstrators may try to break into the Gush Katif settlement. Leaders opposed to the Gaza withdrawal have not given the police firm guarantees that this will not happen.

However, according to a representative of the settlers, even despite the ban, up to 100 thousand people still intend to take part in the march, and 40 thousand of them expect to continue the rally in Gush Katif.

The police and military are ready to deploy up to 15 thousand people to prevent the settlers and their supporters from breaking through to the settlement. According to Ha'aretz, the fact that the rally was not permitted should "make it easier for the police to deal with the demonstrators."

Let us recall that according to the unilateral disengagement plan signed by Ariel Sharon, all Israeli settlements and troops must be withdrawn from the Gaza Strip by the fall.

Israeli settlers blocked checkpoints in the Gaza Strip