JERUSALEM, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that it had detained dozens of Israeli civilians who crossed into the Gaza Strip overnight without authorization.
According to Israel's state-owned broadcaster Kan 11, the group that entered Gaza included far-right parliament member Limor Son Har-Melech and members of the radical organization Nachala, which promotes Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
In a social media post, Har-Melech wrote that the group had entered Gaza "together with the Nachala movement and dozens of other families, women, men, and children," adding, "Gaza is ours forever. Only in this way will we ensure victory and true security for the people of Israel."
The IDF said its surveillance units monitored the civilians throughout the incident, dispatching troops to the area to apprehend the individuals and return them to Israeli territory.
The detainees were subsequently handed over to the Israel Police for further processing.
In its statement, the IDF condemned the unauthorized crossings, saying they posed risks to both civilians and military personnel. ■
