Tkuma Administration Plans Post-2028 Future for Gaza Border Communities

The Tkuma Administration, tasked with rehabilitating the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, is already planning for the day after its mandate concludes. Established to manage the massive rebuilding efforts following the October 7, 2023 massacres, the agency is looking beyond its scheduled closure at the end of 2028. Aviel Pensapurkar, deputy head of the Tkuma Administration, revealed in an interview with Calcalist that preparations are underway with local authorities to design a new government-approved framework for when Tkuma's dedicated budget expires.

"Tkuma is supposed to close at the end of 2028, and we will soon begin preparing a new plan with local authorities for the day Tkuma's budget ends. The government will be asked to approve it," Pensapurkar said. He emphasized that the administration evaluates current needs alongside future projections, noting that psychological trauma often manifests intensely only after residents return home. Originally allocated 19 billion shekels, Tkuma's five-year budget has undergone several cuts, leaving 17.2 billion shekels. By the end of 2025, 11.6 billion shekels—about 67% of the budget—had been utilized, with less than 3 billion shekels remaining for the next two years.

Progress on Rehabilitation and Gradual Returns

Addressing the status of the ten hardest-hit communities—Be'eri, Nir Oz, Kfar Aza, Holit, Kissufim, Nahal Oz, Re'im, Nirim, Ein HaShlosha, and Kerem Shalom—Pensapurkar noted that six villages have already completed their return, with over 90% of residents back. While four communities are still finalizing their return, physical reconstruction is progressing rapidly. Kfar Aza and Holit are currently initiating their return phases, while Be'eri expects most rebuilding work to conclude by December, setting the stage for a full return by July 2027.

Nir Oz, which suffered devastating destruction, entered the planning phase a year later than the others to observe a year of mourning and establish new leadership. "Nir Oz started planning its rehabilitation a year after everyone else. They called it a year of mourning," Pensapurkar explained. With the construction of initial pioneer homes completed and nearly 100 residents currently living on the kibbutz, full resettlement is projected to conclude by the end of the 2028 school year.

Pensapurkar stressed the importance of a phased return process, rejecting the idea of simply rushing residents back upon the completion of construction. "It is not just a construction event; people experienced massacres inside their homes. Building the houses is one stage; the important stage is getting used to returning," he stated. Data from Tkuma indicates that 2,600 structures were damaged across the region, with 525 classified as severely damaged and slated for complete reconstruction, totaling 1.5 billion shekels in housing rehabilitation alone.

Balancing Growth and Unresolved Challenges

Beyond basic infrastructure, Tkuma is heavily investing in psychological health, education, employment, and demographic growth under the "Build Back Better" (BBB) motto. Pensapurkar noted that the region's population has actually grown by 5,000 residents compared to pre-war figures, driven by newcomers seeking to strengthen the border communities. However, a significant challenge remains regarding residents who are unable or unwilling to return. A dedicated Prime Minister's Office task force is currently formulating a governmental framework to provide certainty and financial solutions for these families without compromising the budgets allocated to returning communities.