More than 600 days since the October 7, 2023, attacks, residents of the hardest-hit communities are still deeply affected by months of trauma and displacement. That’s according to a new study by the Habayta Forum, a group focused on rehabilitating the Israeli towns bordering Gaza.
The study surveyed 580 residents from the 11 communities still under government evacuation orders: Be’eri, Nir Oz, Nahal Oz, Kfar Aza, Re’im, Nirim, Sufa, Holit, Nir Yitzhak, Kissufim, and Netiv HaAsara. About a third of those surveyed reported that they are not working at all, and roughly half of them said this was due to emotional distress.
The high unemployment numbers are particularly striking since before the war, just 1 out of every 10 residents of the communities was unemployed, with 70% working full-time. Now, only 45% work full-time.
More than 40% reported high levels of financial anxiety, which has increased significantly since the attacks. Despite ongoing government assistance, 60% of evacuees reported a substantial rise in their expenses following the evacuation.
A third of employed respondents said they are dissatisfied with their financial situation, and a quarter reported that they had begun or were considering a career change.
Beyond emotional difficulties in returning to work, 17% of out-of-work residents said childcare was the reason, and 10% said their previous workplace had been destroyed or closed due to the war.
Although residents are officially permitted to remain evacuated, a quarter have already returned to their communities, including some places that remain under security restrictions. Around 2% are staying in hotels or with relatives, and 73% are living in temporary evacuation centers with their communities.
Just under half of all respondents said they plan to return home, while 12% say they won’t go back.
“The data from this survey raise a bright red flag,” Eden Bizman, head of the Habayta Forum, said. “The economic and employment situation among residents requires immediate attention and practical solutions. The fact that many do not know whether they’ll return home when possible is especially concerning. However, it’s important to remember that no financial aid, no matter how generous, can lead to true recovery without the return of the hostages from captivity.”
