Nearly All Gaza Envelope Residents Return Home After 1,000 Days, Yet Security Fears Persist

One thousand days after the outbreak of the war, most residents of the Gaza envelope area have returned to their homes, but many remain concerned about the ongoing security situation and Hamas's control over the Gaza Strip. According to data from the Tikuma Authority, residents of 43 out of 47 communities in the region have already resettled. The remaining communities, including Nir Oz, are expected to return gradually, with Nir Oz's residents projected to come back by 2027. The kibbutzim Holit and Kfar Aza will begin their return process starting August 31, 2026, while residents of Be'eri are expected to return by the end of December 2026.

Financially, by the end of 2025, approximately 11.6 billion shekels, or about 67% of the five-year plan budget, have been invested in the region's rehabilitation. The planned budget for 2026 is around 2.8 billion shekels. Currently, about 92% of the Gaza envelope population has returned, with the population now at roughly 65,000, up from 62,000 before the October 7 attack. Despite these positive signs, many residents express ongoing fears due to Hamas's continued dominance in Gaza.

Sharon Calderon, who recently returned to Kibbutz Sufa after much deliberation, stated that she remains uncertain about staying permanently. She said, "It has been 1,000 days and we have learned nothing, changed nothing. These are 1,000 days of pain, and there is still fear because of the security situation. Hamas has not stopped controlling the Gaza Strip. The massacre of October 7 probably won't happen again, but there will be no peace in the Gaza envelope." Another resident, Meirav from Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha, said she is not ready to return due to Hamas's strengthening and ongoing security threats, including drone attacks and the existence of tunnels. She emphasized, "It feels like we have learned nothing since October 7. Right now, I am not returning home."

The situation highlights the complex balance between rehabilitation efforts and persistent security concerns in the Gaza border communities as they mark nearly three years since the conflict's escalation.