Efrat Sinai, Manager of the KKL-JNF Archives: "The photographs show how the towns were built even before Israel's declaration of independence and how they grew throughout the years. Prime ministers and official have visited the Gaza Envelope, and after meeting residents, planted trees for the next generations. These trees grew into forests that surround the towns with green landscapes. Alongside the peaceful existence, and the families that brought up their children, agriculture work secured by armed guards can also been seen, as it accompanied the towns since the very beginning."
A resident of Be'eri announces the establishment of the Kibbutz, October 1946. Photograph: Shternberg, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
A baby takes his first steps near the tents of Ein HaShlosha, 1952. Photograph: Hirschbein Edgar
Building the silo at Ein HaShlosha, 1952. Photograph: Hirschbein Edgar, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
IDF Chief of Staff Haim Laskov speaks at the planting ceremony near Nahal Oz, 1958. Photograph: Avraham Melavsky, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Planting ceremony at Nahal Oz, 1958. Photograph: Avraham Melavsky, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
David Ben-Gurion planting a tree at Nahal Oz, 1960. Photograph: IDF Magazine
Nahal Oz, 1967. Photograph: Yehuda Hanegbi, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Children playing at Be'eri, 1969. Photograph: Alex Starmister, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
A father and his child at Be'eri, 1969. Photograph: Alex Starmister, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Be'eri group members, 1969. Photograph: Alex Starmister, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Kerem Shalom, 1970. Photograph: Parkash, KKL-JNF Photo Archive.
Gaza Village, May 1970. Photograph: Dov Dafnai.
Protected shelters at Nativ Ha'asara, 1976. Photograph: Nadav Lehrer, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
Holit, February 1985. Photograph: Israel Sinai, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
Holit, landscape and flowers, February 1985. Photograph: Israel Sinai, KKL-JNF Photo Archive