IDF Reim Base Sports Center Reopens After October 7 Destruction

Nearly two years after Hamas terrorists stormed the IDF base at Re’im and turned its gym into a battleground, the doors have reopened stronger, brighter, and filled once again with the spirit of Israeli soldiers.

The sports center at the Re’im base, home to the IDF’s Gaza Division headquarters, was officially reopened this week as part of a NIS 23 million ($7.44 million) reconstruction project. What was once riddled with bullet holes and ultimately destroyed in an airstrike is now a state-of-the-art fitness facility and indoor basketball arena.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorists infiltrated the base and seized the sports center, using it as an operational hub to plan further attacks against IDF soldiers and their families. When Israeli special forces moved in to retake control, the terrorists made their final stand inside the gym. The IDF ultimately ordered an airstrike to eliminate the threat, completely destroying the building.

The devastation was profound. Much of the base’s infrastructure was left damaged or unusable. But from the ashes has come renewal.

During the reopening ceremony, a mezuzah was affixed to the doorpost and a commemorative plaque was unveiled small but powerful reminders of continuity, faith, and resilience in the face of terror.

The rebuilding effort was led by Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and the Association for Israel’s Soldiers, reflecting the deep bond between Israel’s defenders and Jewish communities around the world. The original sports center had been funded by donors from FIDF’s New York Tri-State Area Real Estate Affinity Group, who quickly mobilized after the attack to ensure it would rise again.

Marty Berger, co-chair of the donor group, recalled visiting the shattered facility just two months after October 7.

“We saw the damage and the bullet holes throughout the gym and fitness center. It was heartbreaking,” he said. “But we also saw how the Gaza Division re-emerged, ready to defend Israel with strength and determination, and we vowed to rebuild it.”

Today, that vow has been fulfilled.

The new sports center is more than a gym. It represents stability returning to a base that endured one of the darkest days in Israel’s history. It offers soldiers a place to train, recharge, and maintain physical and mental strength as they continue to defend the nation.

FIDF CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nadav Padan described the rehabilitation as a mission rooted in unity.

“Rehabilitating Re’im base stems from the inseparable bond between the Jewish community in the United States and IDF soldiers,” he said. “The reconstruction symbolizes the determination to restore routine and provide soldiers with a secure and dignified environment.”

AFIS CEO Col. (Res.) Shari Nechmias-Carmel echoed that sentiment, calling the project a symbol of life and hope returning to the base after a complex and painful period.

The broader NIS 23 million initiative also includes restoring the base’s synagogue, library, health clinic, and other damaged facilities. Each rebuilt structure represents another step toward full operational readiness and a renewed sense of purpose.

Hamas sought to turn a place of strength into a symbol of fear. Instead, it has become a testament to Israel’s resolve.

The reopening of the Re’im base sports center sends a clear message Israel rebuilds. Israel restores. Israel stands firm.

From tragedy has emerged renewal, powered by unity between soldiers and supporters around the world.

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