Gaza border region population rises 10% as reconstruction accelerates
The Tekuma area along Israel’s Gaza border has grown by about 10% since the Oct. 7 attack, now housing roughly 66,000 residents.
Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics and the Tekuma Administration report that the Gaza-border “Resurgence” region now hosts approximately 66,000 people, a 10% rise over pre-Oct. 7 levels. Over 90% of those who fled have come back, and Sderot remains the largest town with around 40,000 residents. Schools see an extra 2,000 students and 1,000 youths are engaged in pre-military and national-service programs.
The government has earmarked about 17.5 billion shekels for multi-year reconstruction, including billions for housing, infrastructure and agricultural revitalisation. Grants aim to modernise farms, support automation and attract young entrepreneurs, while industrial projects such as a new factory complex at Kibbutz Kfar Aza and a high-tech park in Sha’ar HaNegev are under way. Despite progress, large tracts of farmland remain damaged and full recovery is still pending.
Why it matters
The population surge shows rapid recovery and significant state investment in a strategically vital border region.
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