Many residents of the kibbutz Nahal Oz, near Israel’s border with Gaza, remain reluctant to go back despite the government ending housing subsidies.
The community was attacked on October 7, 2023, leaving lasting trauma.
About half of its roughly 400 residents have returned so far.
The government has stopped paying for evacuees’ temporary housing outside the area, signaling a push to rebuild the community.
Many returning residents say they’re torn—wanting closure but still feeling unsafe living just meters from the border.
Their hesitation comes as subsidies end, infrastructure remains damaged, and memories of the attack weigh heavily.
