The original community was established in Sinai ( Pithat Rafiah) in 1978, as a Zionist response to Camp David Accords and destined to stop the uprooting of the area. Following the pullout of Yamit in 1982, the community relocated in the Gush Katif dunes .
After wandering between a few temporary sites, it found its permanent location. In its early days, Atzmona was a cooperative community, but later on,  has undergone privatization, according to which all families belong to the communal society and  30 village families belong to the cooperative framework.
These two bodies operated in complete harmony and mutual help. Over 95 families resided in Atzmona; more than 700 people.