Israeli activists mobilize to protect aid trucks

CounterVortex
Standing Together

For months, groups on the Israeli far right have traveled to the crossings where aid is moved from the West Bank to the Gaza border in an effort to disrupt the shipments—even attacking drivers and attempting to destroy the supplies. But now, other groups of Israelis are boarding buses from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and heading to those crossings to try and help the trucks complete their passage into Gaza to deliver the aid. This has sparked stand-offs near the border between right-wing groups such as Tzav 9 and pro-coexistence groups such as Standing Together.

On May 19, activists from Standing Together helped clear the road and reload boxes of humanitarian aid destined for Gaza that had been thrown off a truck by Tzav 9 followers at the Tarqumiyah Crossing in the West Bank.

The name Tzav 9 (Order 9) is a reference to the Order 8 emergency mobilization notice that army reservists received on Oct. 7 last year. (PRI, ToI, TNA)

Photo: Standing Together via Times of Israel

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    Earlier in the day, hundreds of right-wing militants stormed al-Aqsa Mosque, under heavy protection from Israeli police. Midldle East Eye says these militants were associated with the group Humanitarian Guard, but a group of this name appears to be a project of the progressive pro-coexistence organization Standing Together, launched to protect the aid convoys from right-wing militants. 

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