A planned groundbreaking ceremony for a new neighborhood in Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza border, was abruptly halted as the government convened to discuss the possibility of a full-scale military occupation of Gaza. The kibbutz, devastated during the October 7, 2023 attack, lost a quarter of its residents to murder or abduction, with several still held captive. The event was intended to mark a step toward rebuilding, attended by released hostages and families of those still missing. However, organizers stated that proceeding with the ceremony was impossible while such a critical decision was being debated, emphasizing that any military action could endanger the remaining hostages and impede the community's recovery.