As part of the rebuilding of the Gaza Envelope region, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund has signed an agreement with the Tkuma Administration, within the framework of which about NIS 300 million will be allocated to projects in the region. The agreement includes the establishment of a new neighborhood in Kibbutz Ruhama, the restoration of roads and security routes, agricultural land preparation and more.
KKL-JNF has completed the construction of the neighborhood in Ruhama within a mere four months, instead of ten months as originally planned, at the cost of about NIS 55 million. The members of Kibbutz Kafar Aza, who sustained a mortal blow on October 7, shall move to the new neighborhood in Ruhama and will be able to begin rebuilding their community.
As part of the project, KKL-JNF together with the Settlement Division have built 120 housing units with prefabricated construction, in addition to investment in essential infrastructure such as access routes, sewage and electricity, in order to enable the residents to maintain a normal lifestyle. In addition, five homes were built there that are intended for the hostages – Gili, Zivi, Emily, Doron and Keith – members of Kibbutz Kfar Aza who were abducted and continue to be held in Hamas captivity.
KKL-JNF Chairwoman, Ms. Ifat Ovadia-Luski, states: "The restoration and strengthening of settlement in the western Negev are Zionist challenges of the highest order. As we have done throughout history, KKL-JNF is also now mobilizing for a Zionist settlement project which will provide the residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza with certainty and strengthen the western Negev. Time after time, KKL-JNF proves that it is the number one contractor in Israel. We began construction this past June, we worked with great vigor and very soon the first residents to populate the new neighborhood will arrive. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund is proud of a project that provides certainty for the residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza and enables them to rebuild their community after the difficult events of October 7."
* John Sussana, a resident of Kfar Aza, said *: "This is a very exciting moment. We will finally stop being evacuees and move into a house of our own, where we can start to rebuild and recover. Of course, we still hope to return to Kfar Aza together with our hostages. But for now, thanks to KKL-JNF, which moved up the receipt of the keys earlier than expected, we can reside in a temporary House of our own. We thank everyone who helped from the bottom of our hearts."