some of which were located where Gush Katif once stood. Many politicians and journalists realized the connection between the Israeli 2005 withdrawal and the Hamas takeover. Some even apologised for not realizing this would happen and doing enough to prevent it. Former Gush Katif land today At the time of the Gush Katif withdrawal, Israeli authorities destroyed all the Jewish residents' homes. Palestinians dismantled most of what remained, scavenging for cement, rebar and other construction materials. There had been an intense public conflict regarding the many public structures and synagogues in Gush Katif. "Many asserted that the buildings must be destroyed in order to ensure that they would not be used by terrorist organizations in the future. The fate of many of the area’s synagogues was also discussed at that time". Initially, the government favoured demolition of the synagogues and was adamant that the high courts should not intervene. However, later they changed their mind. "Limor Livnat suggested involving UNESCO, with the hopes they would declare Gush Katif synagogues as official World Heritage Sites". The synagogues were left intact, as the IDF did not wish to destroy holy sites and hoped that the Palestinians would respect these buildings. However, the Palestinians set fire to the buildings. Settlements in Gush Katif Bedolah בדולח (lit. Crystal) Bnei Atzmon בני עצמון (named after the Atzmona community in Sinai) Gadid גדיד (lit. picking of palm tree fruits) Gan Or גן אור (lit. Garden of light) Ganei Tal גני טל (lit. Gardens of dew) Kfar Darom כפר דרום (lit. South village) Kfar Yam כפר ים (lit. Village of the sea) Kerem Atzmona כרם עצמונה Morag מורג (lit. Harvest scythe) Neve Dekalim נוה דקלים (lit. Palm tree Oasis) Netzer Hazani נצר חזני (named after Cabinet Minister Michael Hazani) Pe'at Sade פאת שדה (lit. the edge of the field) Katif קטיף (lit. harvest, picking of flowers) Rafiah Yam רפיח ים Shirat Hayam שירת הים (lit. Song of the sea) Slav שליו (lit. Quail) Tel Katifa תל קטיפא Most of the Gush Katif settlements were concentrated in one block on the southwest edge of the Gaza Strip and were individually surrounded by fencing. Settlements north of Gush Katif Dugit דוגית (small boat) Elei Sinai אלי סיני (named after Sinai) Nisanit ניסנית (a flower that blossoms in the sands) Netzarim נצרים (lit. scions) The three Israeli settlements on the northern edge of the Gaza Strip (Elei Sinai, Dugit and