The Israel Defense Forces has canceled an order that defined civilian communities near the border with the Gaza Strip as a closed military zone, according to widespread Hebrew reports on Wednesday.
The decision, which came in the wake of a Cabinet vote to end state-funded housing for some evacuees from the area, means civilians are free to enter the villages surrounding Gaza without restrictions for the first time since the Hamas terror group started the war on Oct. 7, 2023.
According to Ynet, residents of the so-called Gaza Envelope were told recently that their communities would no longer be part of the closed military zone, though some roads will remain off-limits for civilians amid continuing IDF ground operations against terrorists in Gaza.
Earlier this week, the IDF’s Home Front Command lifted all restrictions on civilian movement throughout the Jewish state in the wake of the truce with Iran, but left the door open for the military’s Southern Command to impose new limitations for the Gaza Envelope.
On Sunday, government ministers voted to end state funding for hotel stays for some Israelis displaced by the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist assault.
“According to the updated security assessment, there are no security obstacles preventing residents’ return to the following communities starting July 1, 2025: Be’eri, Holit, Kissufim, Kfar Aza, Kerem Shalom, Nahal Oz, Nirim, Nir Yitzhak, Nir Oz, Netiv HaAsara, Sufa and Ein HaShlosha,” the Cabinet stated following a telephone vote.
The Tekuma Authority, which was established in the wake of the Hamas-led devastating terrorist attack with the aim of rehabilitating the area, is still completing reconstruction efforts in Nahal Oz, Kissufim, Holit, Kfar Aza and Be’eri. Residents of the latter five communities will be able to remain in state-funded housing until their homes are fully rebuilt.
As of February, 85% of the approximately 65,000 residents of the Gaza Envelope, who were almost all evacuated after Oct. 7, were back home, with only around 11,000 still living in state-funded accommodations.
IDF officials told heads of local authorities in the Gaza border area earlier this month that it is safe for all residents to return home.
“There are no security obstacles to returning to the communities,” OC Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor told local leaders on June 10. Also present at the meeting were Defense Minister Israel Katz and Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo.
Milo stressed that, 600-plus days after Oct. 7, the threat facing towns along the Samaria security barrier was now higher than near Gaza.
“If you were to ask me where the threat is much greater today—Bat Hefer is facing a much greater threat than Yakhini,” he emphasized, referring to a village east of Netanya in the Sharon plain and a Gaza border moshav where seven people were killed on Oct. 7, respectively.