Gaza Envelope

Middle Israel: Remember October 7 by building a stronger western Negev - opinion

From destroyed kibbutzim to new memorials, Israel is grappling with how to commemorate October 7 while rebuilding the western Negev and ensuring its communities thrive.

NIR OZ decided to demolish all its 400 damaged buildings and build from scratch, preserving only sporadic reminders of the carnage, to be integrated in a memorial complex. Here, children of the kibbutz visit their destroyed home one last time before.
A view of a roadside bomb shelter where dozens of festivalgoers were murdered during the October 7 massacre, near the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip, October 7, 2026.

Oct. 7 Gaza border shelters designated antiquities as safeguard against 'clean up' projects

Dalit Ram Aharon (rear, C) takes part in a therapeutic surfing trip to Sri Lanka for women from Kibbutz Nir Oz. HaGal Sheli (My Wave) organized the trip as part of its therapeutic surfing programs for individuals affected by Oct. 7.

From Nir Oz to the Waves: How Surf Therapy Helped an October 7 Survivor Reclaim Her Inner Strength

Israelis visit a memorial site for those killed in the October 7 attack at the former Sderot Police Station in southern Israel, November 5, 2025.

The Oct. 7 battle for Sderot still rages in the minds of its survivors


Putin, unlike Trump, actually wants a war - opinion

MIDDLE ISRAEL: Historians will wonder where Trump's antiwar attitude came from, and how it can be reconciled with Trump’s image as an aspiring fascist. 

 GERMAN ARMY servicemen participate in a NATO military exercise in Pabrade, Lithuania, last year.

Kerem Shalom residents respond to IDF's Oct. 7 probe, call for state inquiry

In a statement following the IDF probe into the events of October 7, the members of Kibbutz Kerem Shalom thank the IDF for their investigation, but call for a broad state commission inquiry.

 Israeli women and children from Kibbutz Nir after being rescued from Hamas terrorists by the Israel Border Police, October 7, 2023.

New hotel in Israel: The grandiose project by the man behind Desert Iris

New tourism project in the Gaza Envelope: An agricultural hotel in Kibbutz Urim, initiated by Amram Mitzna. “After October 7th, We want to develop the area, and a hotel is an important step forward."

 "Deser Iris" hotel in Yeruham

The residents of Israel's South are our line of defense, they need our support - opinion

It’s time for central Israel to understand: Israel’s resilience depends on the strength of its periphery.

 VOLUNTEERS RENOVATE homes destroyed during the October 7 massacre in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. If not for the determination of Western Negev residents to remain on their land, we would have been met with Hamas terrorists deep inside Israel, the writer asserts.

KKL-JNF leads massive effort to save Israel's southern agricultural heartland from collapse

Time is running out: KKL-JNF leads a historic mission to revive Israel’s devastated farming communities.

 Agricultural land at Gaza envelope

Sano partners with Gaza bordering kibbutz for pioneering solar project

Despite war challenges, the 1.5M shekel project will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 68% using locally-manufactured solar technology.

 With 800 square meters of solar collectors spanning across the Sano factory roof and an estimated investment cost of 1.5 million shekels, the project reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 68%.

Great heaviness melding with tremendous light - opinion

There is a great sense of heaviness here, as I witnessed most directly in Be’eri this week, but there is also tremendous light and hope for the future, as experienced with our brave soldiers on base.

 Photos of the destruction in Kibbutz Be'eri taken in the beginning of November 2023.

Saving souls for the next generation: How one man saved hundreds of kids on October 7

Rami Davidian's bravery saved over 700 lives during the October 7 attacks – but he'll never forget what he saw.

 Rami Davidian, an Israeli farmer who saved hundreds of young Israelis from the Nova massacre attends the annual Jerusalem Conference of the 'Besheva' group in Jerusalem, on February 26, 2024. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

Resilience Index report showcases ongoing trauma among Western Negev residents one year post-war

Dudi Gabay, chairman of the "New Land": "It is crucial to listen closely to the needs of the residents and implement actions on the ground.”

 Kibbutz members stand next to a ruined house in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on January 14.

'I arrived broken and bleeding': Healing Place helps October 7 victims heal after trauma

A rehabilitation farm in central Israel helps those who are dealing with trauma and loss from October 7.

 Atendees participate in a group exercise activity at Yimuk Marfaei.