Zikim Beach near the northern border with the Gaza Strip, the site of one of a Hamas massacres two years ago, was set to reopen to the general public for the first time since the October 7, 2023, invasion, authorities announced on Wednesday.

Following a fresh assessment, the military said IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir approved a recommendation by the Southern Command to reopen Zikim Beach, in coordination with the regional council, and to lift the closed military zone status imposed on the area since the start of the war.

On the morning of October 7 two years ago, 38 Hamas terrorists in seven speedboats set out from the Gaza Strip. Some of the terrorists reached the beach area, where they killed 17 civilians and one soldier, according to a military probe.

When it reopens on Thursday, the beach will initially be accessible between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. with a lifeguard there from 9 a.m., said a joint statement from the Hof Ashkelon Regional Council and the Tekuma Directorate, a government body tasked with rehabilitating the Gaza border communities overrun by Hamas terrorists.

A formal opening ceremony would be held next Tuesday at 3 p.m., the statement added.

While surfing will be permitted, other water sports and diving will not be allowed for the time being.

The regional council said it had worked with the Tekuma Directorate and the interior and tourism ministries to repair the damage done by the terrorists during the attack and to upgrade the facilities.

The redevelopment of the beach cost some NIS 20 million ($6 million), with NIS 6.5 million of the total coming from the Tekuma Directorate, the regional council said.

The IDF said the move was made possible “following significant operational activities” in the northern Gaza Strip area and preparations by the Southern Command and Navy.

“After a long wait, the special and beautiful Zikim Beach will be open to bathers and visitors,” said Itamar Revivo, head of the regional council.

“As we open the beach, we will remember and memorialize the victims of Zikim Beach, and we won’t forget the 18 people murdered there.”

Revivo also thanked Tekuma and the interior and tourism ministries for their help and investment in upgrading the beach.

“Opening Zikim Beach to the public after it had been closed for two years after October 7 is another symbolic event that highlights that life in the Tekuma region [the area of southern Israel affected by the October 7 onslaught] is getting back on track,” said Minister Ze’ev Elkin, who is in charge of rehabilitating the south and the north.

“Those who tried to chase us out of the area with their atrocities see today the rehabilitation and strengthening of civilization in the Tekuma region. The fact that the beach was not only rehabilitated, but developed and upgraded, once again proves that our goal is not only restoring the life we had, but growth and strengthening in the Tekuma region. This is an important part of our victory over our enemies!”

Tekuma Directorate head Aviad Friedman, said restoring and opening the beach was part of the directorate’s responsibility to bring prosperous life back to the area and sends a clear message that “we are here to rehabilitate and grow.”

“We will continue to work toward rebuilding the area in the belief that in the places that were hit the hardest we will build a new, safer, and better future,” he said.