More Than 90% of Gaza Border Residents Return Home, but Trauma Lingers
Nearly 92% of residents evacuated from Israel’s Gaza border communities after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack have returned, according to new data released by the Tekuma (Resilience) Administration ahead of the 600th day since the assault.
Out of roughly 64,000 residents in the region, 59,000 are now back in their homes, supported by a 1.4-billion-shekel government rehabilitation program. The Tekuma Authority said at least some residents have returned to 42 of the 47 evacuated communities, with more than 2,500 new residents—most settling in Sderot—joining the area since the massacre.
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Communities closest to Gaza report mixed levels of recovery. Kerem Shalom has seen 88% of its residents return, joined by six new families, while Re’im reports a 95% return rate and 10 new families. Be’eri has restored 96% of its buildings, and Nirim and Bera’im have reached full or near-complete renovation. By contrast, heavily devastated communities such as Nahal Oz, Nir Oz, Kfar Aza, and Holit remain largely displaced, with some residents not expected to return until 2027.
Despite progress in reconstruction, a survey by the “Back Home” forum reveals severe social and economic challenges. In the hardest-hit communities, 30% of residents are unemployed—half due to trauma. Full-time employment has dropped from 70% before the attack to 45% today, while over 70% of respondents report high levels of economic anxiety.
Tekuma head Aviad Friedman said most residents have returned with determination to rebuild, joined by thousands of new families, stressing that the effort is aimed not only at recovery today but at creating a stronger and more secure future.
