Israeli Population Near Gaza Border Surpasses Pre-Oct. 7 Level
Communities near the Gaza border now house 66,000 residents, surpassing pre-Oct. 7 numbers, with significant government investment in recovery.
Jerusalem, 24 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The population of communities near the Gaza border has risen to about 66,000, roughly 5,000 more than before the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to figures released Thursday by the Tekuma Administration, the government body overseeing the area’s recovery.
The region, which includes Sderot and communities in the Eshkol, Sha’ar HaNegev, Sdot Negev and Chof areas, has grown by about 10%—2.5 times Israel’s national population growth rate. More than 90% of residents evacuated after the attack have returned, while thousands of new residents have moved to the area.
Reconstruction continues in several communities, with NIS 17 billion ($5.6 billion) allocated to the region’s long-term rehabilitation, including housing, infrastructure, security, education and healthcare. The government aims to double the population by 2033.