Over 1,000 Days After October 7 Massacre, More Residents Return to Gaza Border Communities Than Before War

On October 8, Orith Ganor, a 41-year-old married mother of four from Jerusalem, was asked by the Gaza Envelope Rehabilitation Administration to join the effort to rebuild communities near the Gaza border. Having recently completed a role managing international projects at the Energy Ministry, Ganor felt a strong sense of duty to contribute to the country’s recovery.

Currently, residents have returned to 43 of the 47 communities affected by the conflict. The kibbutzim of Kisufim, Holit, and Kfar Aza are in the final stages of repopulation, with Be’eri expected to be resettled by the end of the year and Nir Oz by mid-2027. The order of return is based on the extent of damage, with ten communities nearly destroyed and six already repopulated. The rehabilitation process is largely self-managed by local committees working with contractors, aiming not only to restore but to improve homes and public buildings.

The administration’s budget totals 17.5 billion shekels, with 1.5 billion allocated for physical reconstruction and the remainder for community resilience, welfare, health, transportation, and business support. Ganor highlighted that the physical rebuilding is just the foundation for future growth and demographic expansion in the region.

Return rates are high, around 95%, and the population in the area has increased by approximately 3,000 since October 7. Demand for housing is strong, with many new families and volunteers arriving. Ganor acknowledged the emotional challenges of restoring homes where residents were killed or taken hostage, noting the personal connections she has with some of the affected families.

Ganor’s background includes degrees in business, psychology, economics, and public policy, and she credits a former government minister for encouraging her to join the civil service. She rejects the notion that career and family cannot be balanced, calling it the worst advice she ever received. The sensitive issue of memorializing destroyed communities is handled internally by the communities themselves, without her direct involvement.