Poll: Most Israeli evacuees from near Gaza feel unsafe to return, though they want to

Two-thirds of residents of Israeli communities near the Gaza Strip that were evacuated following the October 7 onslaught still feel unsafe returning home, a survey finds, even though 70 percent would like to return at some point.

The survey, published yesterday and reported today by The Times of Israel’s Hebrew-language sister site Zman Yisrael, was conducted in early March among 502 residents via online questionnaires and text messages. The margin of error is 4.4%. It was commissioned by Atid Laotef, a group dedicated to rebuilding the Gaza envelope region.

The poll shows 90% still feel like they are a part of the Gaza Envelope area, despite living elsewhere for many months now.

Only 32% say they feel safe returning home at this time, with 25% saying they wouldn’t feel safe at all and 41% saying they would feel “low levels” of safety.

When asked what would improve their levels of perceived safety, 61% say the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip would do so, 56% say “clear plans for the future” would, 54% would want a new buffer zone on the border, and 43% mentioned strengthening of civilian security teams and police forces. Each respondent could choose more than one answer.

The survey shows 84% expect to receive information from authorities about their future, amid extended uncertainty.

Additionally, residents are far less satisfied with the levels of physical and mental health services to them now than they were shortly after October 7.

The poll also shows their current status has negatively affected evacuees’ professional lives, with 10% having stopped working after October 7, including a quarter of the self-employed workers, and some 25% are considering a career change.