Kibbutz Nahal Oz is located in the northwest of the Negev. The kibbutz was established in 1951 as the first Nahal settlement called “Nachlaim in front of Gaza” on the lands of the old Beerot Yitzhak kibbutz. The kibbutz is located about 800 meters from the Green Line bordering with Gaza. New families continue to be absorbed into Kibbutz Nahal Oz and the kibbutz is constantly growing and expanding. The kibbutz has a cultural center, a dairy farm, a chicken coop, field crops, a pre-military preparatory school, young students in Hashomer Hahadash’s “encampment and tower” program, a community of young students and one local bar called Gzunga. And all this in the shadow of the exploding balloons, kites and rockets from above, tunnels from below, and fear of intrusion from the west.
With all the difficulties, they recently established a Visitor Center for Heritage, Security and Agriculture.
There were days, until the end of the 1980s, when it was possible to leave Nahal Oz, turn left and drive, or even walk two kilometers through the Sajaiya neighborhood to visit the city center of Gaza, buy at the market, eat at restaurants, fix cars, or just go for a stroll on the Gaza beach that was then known as one of the most beautiful and romantic beaches in the entire area.
Perhaps the kibbutz elders who lived through those carefree days, know that one day, perhaps, just maybe, the neighbors from Sajaiya will also be able come and to visit them at the new visitor center being built. Adapted from the Kibbutz Visit Site
In the first decade of the 21st century, Kibbutz Nachal Oz had begun planning and building a park for Asian elephants. The park would have been a wonderful tourist attraction, drawing Israelis and internation tourists alike, to come to the Western Negev. Unfortunately, due to bureaucratic issues, it never came to fruition. The decoration of the shelter is a hat tip to that dream which was never to be.
