The Southern District Planning and Building Committee approved plans for a new settlement called Hanon on Tuesday, which will be renamed Ofir in memory of Ofir Lipstein, a soldier killed on October 7.
The settlement will be located east of Kibbutz Sa’ad in the Gaza Envelope and will fall under the jurisdiction of the Sdot Negev Regional Council.
The project aims to attract young families and foster a diverse, vibrant community, strengthening the Gaza Envelope in the aftermath of October 7. The establishment of Hanon was first outlined in a government decision in November 2020, which sought to create a new rural community in the region.
The settlement will cover approximately 235 acres and include around 500 housing units, a large educational campus, a community center, and an employment hub. A central feature of the plan is “Valley Park,” an expansive open park that will provide essential green space for the community.
“The plan strikes a balance between high-quality, diverse housing, ensuring a multi-generational mix, and the development of open spaces with an emphasis on walkability and a central park," explained Southern District Planner Michal Maril.
These features will position the new settlement as a leading community and regional hub, offering a high quality of life for residents and the surrounding area.”
New settlement is step towards strengthening Gaza Envelope
Yehuda Morgenstern, Director-General of the Housing and Construction Ministry, said: “Promoting the plan to establish the Hanon settlement is a significant step in strengthening the Gaza Envelope and consolidating rural settlement in the periphery. The planned settlement will offer a variety of housing options for a mixed, multi-generational community, alongside educational institutions, community services, and advanced infrastructure that will support the growth of the entire region. The Ministry will continue to advance settlement, strengthen communities, and develop the western Negev as part of the national vision to fortify the periphery.”
The plan was prepared by a team led by the architect Aryeh Rahmimov.