The Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, has given his approval to activate the “Meshab Ruh” program allowing Gaza residents to take breaks in guest houses across the country. The National Emergency Authority (NAE) at the Ministry of Defense is updating relevant authority heads in Otef on the implementation of the plan. Meanwhile, IDF spokesman has said that the Minister of Defense approved a “special situation” decision in the Home Front, with the Home Front Command issuing special instructions in the rear for a range of up to 40 km from the Strip, valid till 6:00 p.m. on May 10th.
According to the instructions, in open areas, gatherings of up to ten people and in buildings that are up to 100 years old are prohibited. In Otef, West Lakish, West Negev, Lakish, and the center of the Negev, there will be no classes. Public shelters in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beer Sheva, and Ofakim will be opened. Israel Railways has announced that trains between Nativot and Ashkelon stations will not operate until further notice, and Sderot station will remain closed. Trains will be operated between Nativot to Beer Sheva and Mashkelon to the north.
The assessment of the situation led to the decision to close roads and sites and switch to travel on alternative roads in the areas near the perimeter fence in the Gaza Strip. Access roads west of road 232 leading to agricultural areas will be closed, and roads 4, 34, and 232 will be shut down in sections. Several other roads will also be blocked. Access to some areas such as Kibbutz Zikim, Moshav Nativ HaTara, Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, Kibbutz Nahal Oz, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, Kibbutz Supa, and Kibbutz Hulit will be possible through bypass roads.
Additionally, several locations, including Givat “Kobi,” “The Four Monuments,” “Black Arrow” monument, Givat Ha’Pemoni, Givat Nazmit, and Givat “The Lonely Horseman,” will not be accessible. Zikim Beach will also be closed to visitors, and train traffic between Ashkelon and Sderot will stop.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant this morning (Tuesday) approved the activation of the “Meshab Ruh” program, which allows residents of the Gaza Strip to take a break in guest houses throughout the country. The members of the National Emergency Authority (NAE) at the Ministry of Defense are now updating the heads of the relevant authorities in the Otef on how the plan will be implemented. In the meantime, the IDF spokesman informed that the Minister of Defense approved a decision on a “special situation” in the Home Front, while at the same time, the Home Front Command issued special instructions in the rear for a range of up to 40 km from the Strip, when the instructions are valid until May 10, at 6:00 p.m.
According to the guidelines, which will be valid on May 10 at 6:00 p.m., gatherings in an open area of up to 10 people and in a building up to 100 years old are prohibited, while in Otef, West Lakish, West Negev, Lakish and the center of the Negev, there will be no classes. At the same time, in Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beer Sheva and Ofakim announced the opening of the public shelters. In addition, Israel Railways stated that due to the instructions of the security officials, trains between Nativot and Ashkelon stations will not be operated until further notice, and Sderot station will remain closed. Trains will be operated between Nativot and Beer Sheva. and Mashkelon to the north.
The instructions of the Home Front Command for the residents of the south (photo: Home Front Command)
In the meantime, in light of the assessment of the situation, it was decided to close roads and sites and switch to travel on alternative roads in the areas near the perimeter fence in the Gaza Strip. The areas that will be blocked are all the agricultural access roads west of road 232. In addition, the following roads will be closed: road number 4 – from the Zikim junction to Netiv Hathara, road number 34 – from the Yad Mordechai junction to the Nir Am junction and road number 232 – in the sections from Melslim to Saad and from Menir Yitzhak to Kerem Shalom .
They will also be closed – the road from Bari to the south until the connection with road 232, road 25 from Saad to the west, road number 2428 from Nir Oz to road 2410 and road 242 from the Gama junction to the Kissuf junction.
Which roads will be blocked in the south? (Photo: IDF spokesman)
At the same time, access to Kibbutz Zikim will be possible on the road south of road 3411, access to Moshav Nativ HaTara will be possible on the road from road 3411 to road 4, access to Kibbutz Yad Mordechai will be possible on the road from road 3411 heading south to near Mordechai, access to Kibbutz Nahal Oz will be possible on a bypass road from road 25, Access to Kibbutz Nir Oz will be possible via a bypass road leaving from road 2410, access to Kibbutz Kerem Shalom will be possible on the road east of road 232 from Nir Yitzhak to Kerem Shalom, access to Kibbutz Supa and Kibbutz Hulit will be possible on the road west of road 232 from Nir Yitzhak.
Also, entry to Givat “Kobi” (“The Four Monuments”) in Sderot, to the “Black Arrow” monument, to Givat Ha’Pemoni in the name of the late Asaf Siboni, to Givat Nazmit and to Givat “The Lonely Horseman” will be prohibited. In addition, it was decided to close Zikim Beach to visitors and to stop train traffic between Ashkelon and Sderot.