20 years later, Israelis ask if the Gaza exit backfired — and if it’s time to go back

['Itay Stern', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] TPR: The Public's Radio 2025-09-19 09:00:00

(Shaul Schwarz | Getty Images)Still, nostalgia for Gaza settlements runs deep. Many former Gaza settlers — like Esther Kaufman-Yarchi — cherish the hope they could return to what they call home. Transcript: MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST: For decades, Israeli settlers lived in the Gaza Strip, protected by soldiers. STERN: After Israel left Gaza and Hamas took control there, Hamas spent years firing rockets at Israel and fought several wars with Israel. But many former Gaza settlers, like Esther Kaufman Yahi, have hoped they could return to what they call home.