JERUSALEM

The Israeli government offered financial grants for Israeli families who agreed to return to their homes near the Gaza Strip.

According to the Israeli public broadcaster KAN, the Israeli Defense Ministry is promoting a decision to encourage Israeli families living in settlements between 4 to 7 kilometers from Gaza with a financial grant, with its amount depending on the family size.

Following the eruption of fighting on Oct. 7, the Israeli military authorities evacuated all Israeli settlements around Gaza and housed them in central Israel at the Israeli government's expense.

KAN noted that the financial grant also includes residents of Sderot city under which each adult may get a daily payment of 200 Shekels ($54) and every child receives a daily payment of 100 Shekels ($27).

A family comprising of parents and three children will be able to receive 21,000 Shekels ($5,600) every month, KAN also said.

It noted that the financial grant offer ends with the end of the evacuation period, however, the Israeli authorities have not yet specified a date for ending the evacuation period.

According to Israeli official figures, some 126,000 Israelis have been evacuated from their homes in southern and northern Israel under the current war on Gaza and the exchange of fire with the Lebanese Hezbollah group.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar