Resilience and Renewal in Israel

More than 14 months on from the horrendous attack by Hamas terrorists on 7th October 2023, many members of communities in the south of Israel are returning to their home region and confronting the enormous task of rebuilding.

Revival of the Tkuma region is one of Israel`s most significant national missions, demonstrating remarkable aspirations given the enormous challenge of renewing the area.

As long ago as February, residents were effectively given permission to return to the area when the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) declared it safe to return to communities between 2.5 and 4.3 miles from the Gaza border.

The IDF’s Home Front Command said that no security issues were preventing a return to communities there at that time. Although the fighting against Hamas was still in full progress, so a return was only for the brave.

In March 2024, a visitor from Australia wrote about meeting some of the displaced Israelis and described them as a “remarkable community made up of the most resilient people I could imagine.”

She commented on being privileged to witness the deep relationships of care and trust that had been developed between them and a team from IsraAID, a not-for-profit humanitarian organisation that has been providing psycho-social and educational support to these deeply traumatised communities.

Now, in December 2024 and with the IDF having made remarkable progress against the terrorists, as many as 53,000 out of 64,000 residents of the Tkuma region have returned.

This report by Oriel Moran of All Israel News.