Full Breakdown
Rebuilding the Gaza Envelope: From Emergency Rehab to Long-Term Growth
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Three-Year Rehabilitation Drive in Israel’s Gaza Border Communities
On October 7 2023, Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities along the Gaza border, killing about 1,200 people and taking roughly 250 hostages. In the aftermath, the “Homeward Forum” was created to coordinate the rehabilitation of fourteen severely damaged settlements in the Gaza envelope (the Israeli area within seven kilometres of the border). Over three years the forum has moved from emergency sheltering to large-scale construction, economic planning, and population growth initiatives.
Background & Context
The forum, chaired by Ziv Mazliach, brings together local leadership, municipal councils, and private developers and is funded by member contributions. Early work focused on temporary housing, transport, compensation, and legal battles over “desecrated homes.” A parallel government body, the Tkuma Directorate, was established to provide a full layer of services for the region. Its mandate expires on January 1 2029, raising concerns about continuity of state support.
Official Statements & Responses
Mazliach says the state has already allocated substantial resources: “All in all, the state put a great deal of money into the south.” He notes the debate now centers on how those resources are allocated to generate lasting impact.
Bizman, CEO of the forum and former chief of staff to former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, warns that the end of the Tkuma Directorate could leave vulnerable families without a safety net: “An orphan child will not cease to be an orphan when the Tkuma Directorate stops operating.” He stresses the need for self-sufficiency through the newly formed Homeward Corporation, which partners regional councils with private developers on projects such as hotels and sheltered-housing complexes.
On-the-Ground Reports
Residents describe a surge in settlement activity. At Kibbutz Zikim, Shahar Goldenberg reports a “great, huge demand” for housing, with sales completing in less than a week. Families like Robin Feldman have moved from abroad, receiving the subsidy and living in reinforced apartments with dedicated bomb-shelter rooms.
In Nir Oz, former expatriates Galia Tzur and her husband returned on the day of the attack, selling their New Zealand home to help rebuild. Reconstruction manager Ron Bahat oversees demolition of damaged structures and excavation of new housing while navigating community debates over preserving burned-out homes as memorials.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources agree on the scale of damage and the population’s return, but no specific figures are provided for the number of families receiving the rent subsidy or the exact timeline of the Homeward Corporation’s projects. These gaps limit a full assessment of long-term economic sustainability.
What’s Next – Planning Beyond 2029
The January 1 2029 deadline marks the scheduled conclusion of the Tkuma Directorate’s mandate. Forum leaders stress that without a replacement framework, the region could lose the coordinated services that have underpinned recent rebuilding efforts. Discussions are ongoing about transitioning responsibilities to municipal councils and the Homeward Corporation to ensure continued support for housing, employment, and social services.