Israeli parliament submits draft law to cancel ban on Israelis entering Gaza

Israeli MP Avichai Boaron, from the Likud party, has submitted a draft proposal to allow freedom of movement for Israelis within the Gaza Strip, overturning the long-standing ban imposed under the 2005 "disengagement" law, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

Under the "disengagement" plan, Israel withdrew its armed forces and 9,000 Israeli settlers living in 25 illegal settlements in Gaza. 

"Freedom of existence and full movement [for Jews] must be allowed in the Gaza Strip, as is the case in all areas of the land of Israel," Boaron said.

The proposal, according to its text, aims to emulate the measures taken in the northern occupied West Bank, where restrictions on the entry of Israelis were lifted and the Homesh settlement was rebuilt.

"Lifting the restrictions on Gaza may open the door to the establishment of new settlement blocs within the strip," Boaron added.