Three Years After October 7, Western Negev Businesses Flourish and Grow
Three years after October 7, the Western Negev is witnessing a demographic and business boom. Survivors, reservists, and evacuees are opening cafes, farms, and fitness centers, turning trauma into community renewal.
Three years after the devastating events of October 7, 2023, the Western Negev is experiencing an unprecedented wave of entrepreneurial growth and demographic revival. Despite the heavy trauma of the Iron Swords war, survivors, reservists, and evacuees have chosen creation and community connection as their ultimate response, planting deep personal and business roots in the region.
According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Tkuma region—encompassing communities within 7 kilometers of the Gaza border and the city of Sderot—is now home to some 66,000 residents. This represents a 10% population increase compared to the eve of the war, a growth rate 2.5 times the national average. Return rates have exceeded 90%, and the younger generation is actively steering a socio-economic transformation.
Entrepreneurship and Healing in Sderot and Beyond
At the entrance to the Sha'ar HaNegev industrial zone, Noah Geva, 28, opened "Teva shel Geva" (Geva's Nature) in February 2025. What began as an animal shelter in his small Sderot apartment during the war has evolved into a mini-farm featuring a free petting zoo and emotional therapy rooms for children dealing with trauma. Geva, whose own animals at Nahal Oz were lost during the massacres, now offers emotional support using animal interaction and NLP therapy. "It is a mission," he says, noting that clients travel from all over the south to visit.
Just a few minutes away at the Sderot Cinematheque, the Kultura café and roastery opened in August 2025. Founded by Doron Harel, 29, alongside partners Omer Hadas and Neta Kraus, the venue was originally planned for late 2023. After Harel and Hadas returned from prolonged reserve duty, they decided to press forward. "After the disaster, we understood we were building a safe space for the community, a place for connection," Harel explains. By day a bustling café, it transforms into a wine bar by evening, employing nearly 20 workers.
Empowering Youth and Rebuilding Commerce
In Kibbutz Nir Am, Rinat Levy, 26, established "Me-talmida le-lochemet" (From Student to Female Fighter), a combat fitness training program for young women preparing for IDF service. Levy, an officer in the rescue brigade who fought on October 7, started the initiative online before opening a gym in Nir Am and training squads in Sderot, Be'er Sheva, Ashdod, Netanya, Ramat Gan, and Rishon LeZion. "Our choice to live here, raise a child, and run a business that empowers female fighters is the strongest possible answer to what happened," she notes.
Regional authorities and the Tkuma Directorate have actively backed this economic surge. Through initiatives like TKUMUP, 27 young entrepreneurs have received substantial grants ranging from 100,000 to 350,000 shekels, alongside professional mentoring. Aviad Friedman, head of the Tkuma Directorate, emphasizes that local businesses are vital not only for personal livelihoods but for community resilience and job creation.
Culinary Revival and Commemoration
Culinary and tourism ventures are also flourishing. In Kibbutz Gevim, couple Inbal and Idan Chavroni opened "Etzel Dandan," a dairy culinary spot and food truck, in May 2024. Idan, a former chef in top Tel Aviv restaurants who fought in the kibbutz local security squad, balances his reserve duties with the burgeoning business. In Sderot, cousins Shlomi Isakov and David Abraham opened "Shantz," a sandwich bar located just down the street from the former police station that was destroyed during the October 7 battles.
Meanwhile, in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Nir Ben Zaken opened a new branch of the Aroma coffee chain as a memorial and act of resilience. Ben Zaken, who defended Ein HaShlosha with its local security team, dedicated the branch to fallen workers and friends from the Duvdevan unit. "The only way to emerge from the trauma normally is to deepen our roots," he declares. "What I planned to do over 20 years in the region, I decided to do in five."
