Some evacuated families of hostages said told to vacate government-subsidized homes
Tourism Ministry, which pays the rent to the landlords, says government has not extended funding past August; PM’s office: Funding to continue, issue only a ‘technical matter’
Several families of hostages who are living in government-subsidized housing in central Israel — either because they were evacuated from their homes or need to be in the center of the country for logistical reasons — have reportedly been asked to vacate these apartments by the end of the month.
The rent subsidies are transferred via the Tourism Ministry directly to the apartment owners. According to a report by Channel 12 News, some owners have contacted the families, informing them that the payments are not being renewed and asking them therefore to vacate the apartments.
The Tourism Ministry said a government decision is required to extend the aid period beyond August.
The Prime Minister’s Office said in response that it does not intend to stop aid for the families, and that this is simply a “technical matter.”
Around 57,000 people from communities close to the Gaza border were displaced after October 7, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists stormed southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and took 251 hostages of all ages, while committing numerous atrocities and weaponizing sexual violence on a mass scale. One hundred and eleven of the hostages are still held in Gaza; the IDF has confirmed the deaths of 39 of them.
As of July, 70% of those who evacuated from the south had returned. Amid a still-ongoing military operation against Hamas in Gaza, many view the rehabilitation of the border area as a crucial mission not only for the economy — the area is a main agricultural and industrial asset — but also as a symbol and test of societal resilience. Some of the evacuees are in temporary housing, and thousands are in hotels. Some, especially from the hardest-hit communities, are deterred from returning by the level of damage and the risk of ongoing attacks from Gaza.
In addition, many of the towns closest to the border are designated as closed military areas — though people involved in the rehabilitation efforts are allowed to live there. As part of the Tekuma Authority rehabilitation plan for the area, newly constructed neighborhoods, as an interim solution, are expected to eventually house most of the evacuees of these towns until they can move back to their homes.
Those staying in hotels have also faced fears the government could suddenly cut funding. In March, just hours before state funds for accommodation were set to expire, the government decided to extend aid until July 7. Aid was then extended again on July 7 until the end of August.
Meanwhile, around 60,000 residents of Israel’s north have also evacuated amid near-daily attacks by Hezbollah. This comes as Israel braces for retaliation from Iran and Hezbollah following the killings last week of Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran; Israel did not claim responsibility for the latter assassination.
According to a recent assessment, should Hezbollah target cities far south of Haifa, it could force the evacuation of large numbers of people to Jerusalem and the south – who would be housed in hotels and possibly schools. Plans are also being made for tent cities in the south.
