After October 7, the Israeli government evacuated the small border villages around Gaza. Most of the villages were not safe to return to because of their proximity to Gaza and the constant threat of incoming rockets. The rest were burned or destroyed when Hamas went on a rampage through the civilian communities. Now, most of Hamas’ rocket launchers and weaponry have been destroyed. Israeli soldiers are patrolling the communities four or more miles away as 32,000 of the 60,000 Gaza border residents have returned home. The other 22,000 evacuees from the southern border region still live in 180 hotels or rent on a government subsidy of $1,650 per adult per month. The government offered a large grant per person or family if they returned home by March 7. The amount provided then decreases weekly until all government hotel subsidies end in July. There are massive plans amounting to around $5 billion not just to rebuild personal dwellings but also for cultural, medical, agricultural, and educational facilities as officials say this is critical to rehabilitate and move past the trauma of October 7.

Please pray for the smooth return of the southern residents; past traumas, time, and injuries will make the transition challenging.