Oct. 7-ravaged Nir Oz begins demolishing damaged homes ahead of reconstruction

First nine renovated homes in newly named Pioneer’s neighborhood set to be occupied by families and individuals willing to live on the kibbutz during its ongoing overhaul

By Sue Surkes

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1 September 2025, 1:55 pm

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Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel's environment reporter

A bulldozer tears down the first house due for reconstruction at Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border, where one in four residents were either murdered or kidnapped on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists stormed the area, August 31, 2025. (Nir Oz spokespersons' unit.)

The first of the damaged houses set for demolition and reconstruction at Kibbutz Nir Oz, the community hardest hit by the Hamas invasion on October 7, 2023, was pulled down Sunday.

Recent days have also seen the completion of repairs to nine homes in the newly named Pioneer’s neighborhood, set to be occupied by families and individuals willing to live on the kibbutz during its overhaul and reconstruction.

When finished, the neighborhood will comprise around 30 houses, ten of which will be new builds.

The kibbutz was largely destroyed on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists entered all but six of over 200 homes in the small community and either murdered or kidnapped one of every four residents — 117 people out of some 400. Of those abducted, nine are still being held in Gaza, of whom only five of are believed to still be alive.

A kibbutz spokeswoman said, “Despite the pain, we are determined to transform from a symbol of disaster into a symbol of revival, to rebuild our common home, and also to accompany members who have chosen to build their lives elsewhere.”

But, she added, “Nothing we build here will be complete until the nine loved ones who are still in Gaza return.”

Four new educational initiatives are being established in the kibbutz.

A group of young educators from the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement has already moved into Nir Oz. During the day, they will work in communities throughout the Gaza border area.

A pre-army military academy (mechina in Hebrew) was set to open Monday.

Shviro College, based in the southern city of Beersheba, is collaborating with the Defense Ministry’s released soldiers unit on an initiative set to launch in November, and Bina Balev is focused on an AI education project.

Demolition and reconstruction are only just starting at Nir Oz, as the kibbutz only agreed with the state on a financial package in April.

Until state funds arrive, philanthropy is primarily supporting the reconstruction effort.