The new site combines commemoration, scenic viewpoints, walking paths, and gathering spaces, and will serve as a memorial and meeting place for the former residents of Gush Katif and the wider public. The project began following a request by the Gush Katif Residents' Committee and the Gush Katif Heritage Center to hold a joint tree-planting event for former residents of the communities. Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) chose Kisufim Forest as the location for the event, with each former community receiving a dedicated area for planting.
The success of the event turned the site into an annual gathering place for the community. Later, the committee approached KKL-JNF with a request to establish a permanent memorial site that would allow traditional ceremonies and community gatherings to continue.
As part of the planning process, the former residents also expressed a desire to establish a lookout tower from which visitors could view the locations where the former Gush Katif communities were located prior to the disengagement plan. After examining various options, the current location in the heart of Kisufim Forest was selected.
Photo: Yossi Ifergan, KKL-JNf
At the center of the site stands an approximately 18-meter-high lookout tower, offering views toward the Gaza region and the area where the Gush Katif communities once stood. Around the tower, a large gathering plaza was constructed, from which a circular walking trail extends. Along the trail are seating areas and informational signs telling the story of the Gush Katif communities and preserving their heritage.
The project was carried out in two stages. The first stage included the construction of the lookout tower, while the second stage focused on developing the circular trail, seating areas, and surrounding facilities. Work on the second stage was halted with the outbreak of the Iron Swords War due to the site's proximity to the border and the security situation. After receiving approval from the IDF to resume work in the area, construction restarted approximately six months ago, including completion of the development work and repairs to damage caused during the war.
With its completion, the site joins a series of heritage and memorial projects developed by KKL-JNF throughout Israel, serving as a place of remembrance, connection to roots, and community gathering for the Gush Katif community and the general public.
KKL-JNF Chair Eyal Ostreinsky said: "The completion of the Gush Katif Grove in Kisufim Forest reflects KKL-JNF's commitment to preserving the story of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel and ensuring it has a place of honor within Israel's landscape. This new site allows the evacuees of Gush Katif, their families, and the wider public to pause, remember, and connect with the heritage left behind by these communities. In an area that has experienced such profound upheaval, we seek to create a place of remembrance, connection, and hope – strengthening the bond between people, land, and community."
Micha Hadad, CEO of the Gush Katif Heritage Center, said: "We thank KKL-JNF's leadership for this important partnership and invite the public to visit the site, look out toward the former Gush Katif communities, explore the area, and learn about the remarkable settlement story and heritage of Gush Katif."