Seven Israelis arrested after trying to enter Gaza to pray

At least 25 Israelis from Jerusalem and the West Bank have been detained by the Israeli military after being caught trying to enter the besieged Gaza Strip through the Erez border crossing.

Seven were arrested and the rest stopped for questioning, according to Haaretz.

They were aiming to conduct the morning Jewish prayer service in Gaza, Hebrew media reported. 

"We were honoured to take part in an attempt to hold Shacharit prayers inside the Gaza Strip, with the belief that Gaza is part of the Greater Land of Israel and from the clear understanding that only settlement can be considered a victory,” the unnamed group said.

"And only a Jewish Gaza will remove the threat of rockets, return the hostages from Gaza, and bring security to the south and country as a whole."