Population of Israel’s Tkuma region grew by 10% after October 7 — Jerusalem Post
About 66,000 people now live in the Tkuma region in southern Israel — approximately 5,000, or 10%, more than on the eve of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. More than 90% of the region’s residents who were evacuated after the attack have already returned to their communities, the Jerusalem Post reports, citing data from the Tkuma Directorate.
The region includes Sderot, Eshkol, Sha’ar HaNegev, Sdot Negev and Hof. Its population growth rate is 2.5 times higher than the national average. In addition to the return of evacuees, thousands of new residents have moved to the region since October 7. In Sderot, the region’s largest city, the population stands at about 40,000. The directorate aims to double Tkuma’s population by 2033.
Residents returning to communities
Most evacuated communities have already resumed living at home, but residents are still returning to four localities. More than 96% of residents have returned to Kissufim. The return of residents to Holit began at the end of August, while residents of Kfar Aza are expected to begin returning at the end of September.
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In Kibbutz Be’eri, returns are planned to begin at the end of December and be completed in July 2027. Its reconstruction budget amounts to 473 million shekels and provides for repairs to hundreds of residential and public buildings, as well as the construction of new housing.
Reconstruction and funding
Work is continuing in Nir Oz ahead of the expected return of residents in 2027. A total of 232 million shekels has been allocated for rebuilding the kibbutz: 10 new housing units have already been built and about 30 repaired, while dozens more are planned. About 57 million shekels has been allocated for Holit to restore 110 residential and public buildings and upgrade water supply, sewage and electricity networks. Kfar Aza’s budget totals 211 million shekels, including for repairs to about 280 buildings and the reconstruction of 98 housing units.
Tkuma’s multi-year recovery and development plan is estimated at about 17 billion shekels. By the end of 2025, financial commitments totaling 11.6 billion shekels had been made under it, with another 2.8 billion shekels earmarked for commitments in 2026. About 3.18 billion shekels was allocated for reconstruction and the return of residents, including temporary housing. As of the end of June 2026, about 880 million shekels had been invested in security, approximately 1 billion in education, and more than 466 million shekels in healthcare by the end of 2025.
