Bereaved Families and Ashkelon Council Reach Agreement on Relocating Gaza Border 'Death Mitzvah' Shelters

Bereaved families and Michal Oziah, head of the Eshkol Regional Council near the Gaza border, have reached an agreement regarding the relocation of the so-called 'death shelters' along Road 232. These shelters, which witnessed deadly attacks on October 7, were initially planned to be moved to a memorial site, a plan that faced opposition from families of victims. The issue was discussed extensively in the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee as part of preparing a bill to commemorate the October 7 massacre and heroism.

The committee debate highlighted a divide between families opposing the relocation of the shelters from their original sites and officials advocating for centralizing them at a memorial complex. Yossef Tayeb, acting chair of the committee, facilitated a compromise that does not mandate moving the shelters but requires local authorities to report any decision to relocate or alter shelters to the committee, including public consultation processes. Michal Oziah committed in writing not to move or change any of the six shelters under her council’s jurisdiction before conducting a proper public consultation with families and victims.

The public consultation process will begin immediately, and all local authorities with shelters where October 7 events occurred must inform the committee of any future decisions and consultation outcomes. Oziah expressed reservations about the reporting requirement to the Knesset committee, calling it excessive. Testimonies from bereaved families were heard, including Mally Zander, mother of Noa Zander who was killed in one of the shelters, who pleaded not to move the shelter where her daughter died, emphasizing its historical significance.

The proposed law, advanced by the committee over recent months, aims to establish an annual national memorial day for the October 7 massacre and heroism. It also seeks to create a national memorial authority in the western Negev, including a memorial site, museum, and archive to document and preserve the events of that day and surrounding days. The committee is scheduled to vote on the bill’s second and third readings on Wednesday, with updated text to be published beforehand.

Approximately 90 people were killed in these shelters on October 7, with five abducted. One shelter at Be’eri Junction sheltered nearly 40 partygoers, 16 of whom were killed there. Due to their significance as living testimony to the massacre, the shelters have become pilgrimage sites, causing traffic congestion and unsafe pedestrian crossings. The National Road Safety Authority has warned that this situation increases accident risks and suggested relocating the shelters to reduce unsafe activity.