Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Sunday ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to use "all force" to keep right-wing protesters from entering the Gaza Strip to obstruct the implementation of the pullout.

As IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz was speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Sharon interrupted him and said resolutely "you must act with all severity", local press reported.

"I instruct to use all force to prevent the entry of protesters and to prevent assaults on IDF soldiers," Sharon was quoted as saying.

Hundreds of settlers and individuals opposed to the disengagement clashed with Israeli soldiers and police at the Kissufim crossing into the Gaza Strip on Saturday night and Sunday morning to protest against the closure of the region to non- residents.

According to settlers, one soldier left his position and joined the ranks of protesters, and 13 other soldiers refused orders to bar Israelis from entering the strip.

The army confirmed that nine troops refused orders, and no comment was available on the allegedly defecting soldier.

The refusals are believed belong to the same platoon from which soldiers refused to pitch tents for the evacuation forces several weeks ago. The army handled the refusal without arresting any of the soldiers involved.

Military sources said the matter is being checked and that the IDF intends to punish severely those who involved in the affair and put them to trial.

"Any refusal case will be handled harshly as we've done so far. We will report this to the media, we have nothing to hide," said the IDF.

With the implementation of the pullout drawing near, Israel sealed off the Gaza area last week to prevent non-Gaza residents entering the area.

The move caused great dissatisfaction from the settlers, who insisted the move had brought much inconvenience to their daily life.

Source: Xinhua