Residents outraged after Israeli gov't orders immediate return to several Gaza Envelope communities

Over 630 days after the invasion of Gaza Envelope communities by Hamas terrorists, members of other factions, and even Gaza residents, the Israeli government announced Sunday that residents of seven of the 13 hardest hit communities will have to return to their homes.

In making the decision, the government announced a lifting of a military ban that had previously prevented the residents of Re’im, Kerem Shalom, Nirim, Ein Hashlosha, Sufa, Nir Yitzhak, and Netiv Ha’asara from returning to their homes. 

As of Tuesday, July 1, any residents who wish to return will be able to do so freely. At the end of July, residents of those communities will stop receiving government subsidies for rent in other communities. 

The government decision came following a telephone poll of Ministers Ze’ev Elkin, Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Katz, and Haim Katz, who said that based on recent announcements by the IDF and Defense Ministry, a security impediment to the residents’ return no longer exists. 

Up until now, there have been two classifications for Gaza Envelope communities – security impediments and rehabilitation impediments. 

The remaining six communities in the Gaza Envelope still have rehabilitation impediments, and the announcement of the return to those communities will come at a later date. 

However, the government’s announcement of the lifting of restrictions for those seven communities was met with anger by some residents, especially hostage families. 

Many residents say that homes in the community are not yet inhabitable. The Kibbutz Nahal Oz administration called the announcement “dangerous and irresponsible.” 

“After 632 days of fighting, the hostages are still in Gaza, the war is in full swing, and the intense explosions in Nahal Oz have only intensified in recent days,” the kibbutz said in a statement.

“And yet, the government announces that ‘it’s possible to return’ to Nahal Oz – it’s completely detached from what’s happening on the ground. The attempt to present a ‘return to normalcy’ is not only disconnected – it’s dangerous and irresponsible. Is this a reality in which children can be raised? We are still in a battlefield.” 

Ziv Mazliach, chairman of the Habayta Forum and a member of Kfar Aza currently living in Kibbutz Ruhama, east of Sderot, told The Times of Israel, “You don’t have to be clever to understand that there’s a war on, and it’s very hard to be here and to sleep.” 

“I live in Ruhama, [about 19 km (12 miles) from the Gaza border]” Mazliach said, “and my house moves whenever [the IDF] bombs northern Gaza. I don’t know how many will come back even if the army decides it’s okay.” 

Hostage familles were upset at the government’s announcement, saying it implies that the war is basically over, while their loved ones are still in Gaza. 

Lishay Miran-Lavi, from Nahal Oz, whose husband Omri Miran was abducted from Nahal Oz and has not yet been released, questioned the decision. 

“This evening, we received a message that the IDF is operating in Gaza near Nahal Oz and that we’ll hear extreme noises, not to panic,” she told Ynet News. “How do you raise children like this? Who allows something like this to happen? The road is blocked. There are tanks at the entrance, it’s a closed military zone. We can return? To what? Why are they normalizing this war for us?” 

Lishay says she won’t return to Nahal Oz until Omri comes back from Gaza. 

“I won’t return as long as Omri isn’t here,” she stated. 

אז אם אין מניעה ביטחונית לחזור לגור בקיבוצים
אז למה יש מניעה ביטחונית להחזיר את עמרי?

הגיע הזמן להסכם אחד כולל שיחזיר את כולם הביתה!

תחזירו כבר את עמרי 💔
תחזירו כבר את כולם.ן 💔 pic.twitter.com/33VApQThIF

— Lishay Miran-Lavi (@LishayLM) June 29, 2025

“I met with a senior official who told me we have dismantle Hamas so that Roni and Alma (the two young daughters of Lishay and Omri) can return to Nahal Oz,” she recounted. 

Daily Reminder: 633 days in Gaza.

633 days that Roni and Alma have been waiting for their Abba, Omri. pic.twitter.com/1VpCHwQ9Sx

— Bring Our People 🎗️ (@Bring_Daughters) June 30, 2025

“So now they’re saying they can return? But Omri can’t? How is that possible?” she asked. 

Yael Adar from Nir Oz, whose son, Tamir Adar was killed and his body is still held captive in Gaza asked, “If we’ve removed the threat, why aren’t the hostages being released?” 

“If it’s possible to return, to me that’s equivalent to saying the war is over,” Adar explained to Ynet. “We’ve removed the security threat from Gaza. That’s the implication. If we’ve removed the security threat, why aren’t they releasing them?” 

Meanwhile, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum called for an end to the Gaza war, stating that, “If there is no security impediment to returning to live in the Envelope, then surely there is no impediment to ending the fighting.” 

The Forum called for a comprehensive deal which would release all the hostages at once. 

“Now it remains to achieve a comprehensive agreement to return all 50 hostages, men and women, to complete the mission and ensure an Israeli victory. No partial deals or cruel selections,” the Forum said.