The International Bank and the investment house Altschuler Shaham won a tender to grant loans amounting to about one billion shekels to the Jewish Agency, aimed at financing the construction of about 1,000 housing units in the Gaza envelope communities. The loans will be backed by state guarantees, which reduces the risk associated with the project. The move is intended to support settlement in the area but has sparked mixed reactions among the public. Some are concerned about the government funding dedicated to kibbutzim and express fears that the funds are not directed to other communities like Ofakim and Sderot, which also need development. The criticism focuses on the preference for kibbutzim over urban communities, with some feeling that the state grants unfair advantages to kibbutzim while other communities face economic difficulties. The disputes surrounding the issue reflect the existing tension between the settlement needs in the Gaza envelope and the social and economic challenges of other communities in Israel.