Nearly Three Years After October 7, Displaced Residents Return to Kfar Aza
Nearly three years after the October 7 massacre, residents of Kfar Aza are slowly returning home. Amidst lingering trauma, construction dust, and ongoing debates over destroyed neighborhoods, families are rebuilding their community.
Almost three years after the October 7 massacre, Kfar Aza is beginning the slow, cautious, and often painful process of returning home. About 50 families out of roughly 300 households have returned, with the community hoping for a faster pace after the upcoming holidays. While kindergartens have reopened and life is slowly trickling back, the community remains haunted by the shadow of the tragedy. Around 30% to 40% of families are still hesitant to return, and 10% to 15% have decided not to come back at all. Leaders estimate that 70% of residents could return by the end of 2027, though the timeline heavily depends on the security situation.
Rebuilding Amidst Ruins and Trauma
The return is fraught with emotional and logistical hurdles. The most poignant symbol of the devastation is the destroyed "Young Generation" neighborhood, where 11 residents were murdered and seven were abducted, including released hostages Gali and Ziv Berman and Emily Damari. A dispute over whether to demolish the neighborhood has reached the Supreme Court, prompting the community to temporarily divert the entrance and build a fence to shield the ruins from the rest of the kibbutz. Residents like Viki and Nadav Nassi-Tzanzipar, who fled the horrors while Viki was six months pregnant, have chosen to rent a new apartment within the kibbutz, seeking to escape years of temporary displacement and build a future for their growing family.
"The kibbutz looks like a construction site today. Everything is torn up, and part of that makes that day very present," Nadav said. "Yet, despite the difficulty, it feels good to be here. We want to raise our children here."
Education and Renewal
Signs of renewal are most visible in the children walking the paths. Einat Chamias-Bones, a 54-year-old special education teacher who was evacuated to Ruhama, took a leave of absence from the Ministry of Education to manage the newly reopened kindergarten in Kfar Aza. On September 1, ten children entered the classroom, bringing a sense of emotional release and tears of joy to returning parents. Meanwhile, veteran residents like Sharona Kessler, an interior designer whose husband Alon serves as an IDF colonel, returned in October 2024 to help rebuild infrastructure, working on projects like the elderly community center and welfare facilities.
Despite the tractors, the dust, and the lingering threat from the border, the residents of Kfar Aza share a fragile optimism. Community leaders emphasize that while the kibbutz will never be the same, the return is an act of defiance, resilience, and hope for a quieter future.
