Kibbutz Nir Oz was hit particularly hard on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists unleashed unprecedented devastation on the small border community of 400 residents. Of those, 117 were either killed or kidnapped, with 29 still held hostage in Gaza today.

Now, a year later, the Kibbutz is looking to rebuild, with members voting overwhelmingly Monday to resurrect their shattered community, where only seven out of 220 homes escaped the violence untouched.

The scale of destruction forced most families to flee, and they have yet to return home. Despite these devastating losses, the kibbutz’s leadership sees reconstruction as their path forward.

“There will be those who will not want or be able to return to live in Nir Oz due to the trauma and personal loss they experienced,” a statement by the kibbutz reads. “Our door will remain open to them to return in the future if only they are able.”

Israel’s Cabinet gave approval in December to a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for rehabilitating and developing communities near the Gaza border. The initiative, spanning from 2024 to 2028, allocates up to 18 billion shekels ($4.9 billion) for reconstruction and development efforts. In January, six communities near Gaza began welcoming back some of their residents under IDF Home Front Command authorization.

Relations between members of Kibbutz Nir Oz and the government have been strained throughout the ongoing conflict. Notably, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not responded to their invitation to visit the community. Last month, Nir Oz residents chose not to participate in a second state ceremony to memorialize victims of the Hamas massacres over concerns it would be politicized.

“We refuse to cooperate with a political ceremony that will be conducted by the government,” the leaders of the kibbutz said at the time.

“Those who led to a complete breakdown in trust will not be able to obscure it through ceremonies and use us as extras. Instead of planning ceremonies, the government should visit for the first time the place where a quarter of the community’s population was murdered or kidnapped, to promote a hostage deal.”