IDF Rear Command published an official operational assessment today (Thursday), declaring that residents of all areas over 4 km from the Gaza Strip may safely return home, and listing those between 0-4 km from the Strip which are also safe.
The list of safe locations is as follows: Zikim, Karmia, Yad Mordechai, Erz, Or Haner, Ibim, Sderot, Nir Am, Gevim, Miflasim, Saad, Alumim, Re'im, Magen, Nir Yitzhak, Shlomit, Neveh, and Bnei Netzarim.
The assessment stressed that the areas are not entirely safe from all threats, such as indirect fire, and that it remains subject to specific operational conditions based on the view of Southern Command and Rear Command.
Tens of thousands of residents of the Gaza Perimeter evacuated the area when the war began and have had to live in government-subsidized temporary residencies in hotels and other locations. They can now begin returning home and rebuilding their lives.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of residents of towns and cities near the northern border remain away from their homes, with no end in sight to the border war between Hezbollah and the IDF.