20 years later, Israelis ask if the Gaza exit backfired — and if it's time to go back

20 years later, Israelis ask if the Gaza exit backfired — and if it's time to go backtoggle caption David Silverman/Getty ImagesTEL AVIV, Israel — For decades, thousands of Jewish settlers lived in the Gaza Strip, protected by soldiers. Sponsor MessageThen and now, Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories have drawn broad international criticism. Groups of Palestinians destroyed synagogues in Gaza that Israeli authorities, in a last-minute decision, had left standing. Those thousands of Israelis in Gaza would have faced an Oct. 7 scenario not in 2023, but in 2008." Half of Israelis support new Gaza settlementstoggle caption Shaul Schwarz/Getty ImagesStill, nostalgia for Gaza settlements runs deep.