ESHKOL (Israel, bordering Gaza), Aug. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Gaza settlers plan to block entrance to their communities Monday morning to keep Israeli soldiers out, in their last-ditch bid to stop the pullout, settler leaders vowed on Sunday.

    "We will not accept the evacuation decree," said settler leader Rafi Sari, who is among those organizing the struggle against the government's plan to pull out of Gaza starting on Monday.

    "We will close the gates, we will sit on the road and pray and sing. We will not let the evacuation forces enter," he said, urging all settlers to gather at their community gates at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT).

    Less than 24 hours before the Israeli army is scheduled to close down the area to internal and external traffic, thousands of settlers and anti-disengagement supporters gathered in the Gaza settlement area, seeking to block the pullout in their last chance.

    Once the Disengagement Implementation Law goes into effect on Aug. 15, settlers will have 48 hours to leave voluntarily, after which they will be forced to leave.

    To mark the Jewish holiday of Tisha B'Av on Sunday, which commemorates the destruction of their fist and second temples, settlers amassed late Saturday night following the reading of the Biblical book of Lamentations chronicling the destruction of the Temple 2,000 years ago, and voiced their opposition to the evacuation.

    Meanwhile, Gaza settler leaders urged the protestors to refrain from violence at all costs.

    "If we say 'no' to violence and 'yes' to determination, we will win," said Avner Shimoni who heads the Hof Aza Regional Council.

    He warned that they will not make the pullout easy work and the best line of defense is to greet the evacuation soldiers in a home that looks as normal as possible.

    "Be prepared for psychological warfare," Shimoni said, underlining that the decision to go with the soldiers or to non-violently resist is a personal one that each family must make on their own. Enditem