In August 2005 Israel unilaterally removed its settlements from the Gaza Strip and from four settlements in the Northern part of the West Bank. Israel's decision was driven by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, long considered a supporters of the settlers, who came to the conclusion that settlements were becoming a strategic burden..

 

In August 2005, Israel took the significant step of unilaterally disengaging from the Gaza Strip and removing its settlements from four areas in the northern West Bank. This momentous decision was led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a figure who had historically been viewed as a staunch supporter of the settlement movement. Sharon's shift in perspective was informed by his belief that the settlements, especially those isolated deep within Palestinian territories, were increasingly becoming untenable and presented more of a strategic liability than an asset to Israel.

The logic behind Sharon's move was multifaceted. By taking unilateral action, Israel could dictate the terms of the withdrawal without being mired in potentially lengthy and complex negotiations with the Palestinian leadership. This approach would also allow Israel to consolidate its security concerns and focus its resources on defendable borders. The withdrawal was presented as a means to enhance Israel's security and reduce friction between Israelis and Palestinians, particularly in the densely populated Gaza Strip.

However, this decision was not without its critics. The move to evacuate settlers was met with deep-seated resistance from several quarters within Israel. Many of Sharon's erstwhile allies felt betrayed by what they saw as an abandonment of the Zionist principle of settling the land of Israel. Several members of his Likud party vehemently opposed the disengagement plan, leading to significant political rifts. This internal dissent eventually paved the way for Sharon's departure from the Likud to form a new centrist party, Kadima, later in 2005.

The settlers themselves, many of whom had lived in Gaza and the West Bank for generations, expressed feelings of betrayal and abandonment by the Israeli government. Mass protests were held throughout the country opposing the disengagement. As the deadline for evacuation approached, tensions ran high, and there were widespread concerns that the confrontation between the settlers and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) might turn violent.

However, when the evacuation was executed, the majority of settlers chose non-violent resistance, with poignant scenes of Israeli soldiers evacuating crying residents from their homes. Some soldiers and police were seen weeping alongside settlers, reflecting the emotional and divisive nature of the move.

In the aftermath of the disengagement, the Gaza Strip came under the administrative control of the Palestinian Authority. However, security control and border checks remained with the Israelis. Tensions in the region did not dissipate; instead, they morphed into new challenges, with the rise of Hamas as a dominant force in Gaza and subsequent conflicts between Israel and Gaza-based factions.

The 2005 disengagement remains a significant and controversial episode in Israel's history, with debates ongoing about its long-term implications for both Israeli security and the broader Israeli-Palestinian peace process.