After three weeks of being stuck at home, glued to the TV and sleeping in the little safe room of new homes AshkelonShimon Pur finally decided to return to work. But he did it almost at his fingertips, leaving behind the anxiety from the sky. Within walking distance of the clinic where he works as a security guard, there is a building with a hole in its facade, a burned-out car, and a storefront with shattered windows. Businesses that only give loans basic services still open. AND Thousands of people were evacuatedIt leaves one of the oldest cities in the world half empty, despite the concrete jungles that line the horizon. “I’m used to hearing missiles between Iron Dome We’ve never had explosions like this since I was little. “It’s scary,” admits this Jewish man in his twenties.
Iron Dome anti-missile system protecting southern Israel, but he is far from invincible. Since this last war was started Hamas persecution inside Israeli communities between Gaza areaan attack involving more than one person 1,300 peopleHundreds of bullets, mostly civilians, escaped from the shield. Ashkelon Most bombed cityyet it is a dubious honor to which he is accustomed. between a thousand rockets thrown into the city, 340 people fell open spaces According to municipal sources, 180 of them had a direct impact. These rockets have less explosive payload than a missile, but their primitive technology makes them absolutely indiscriminate. 4 people died and dozens were injured in the city.
Many residents feel abandoned. Hundreds of millions of shekels promised by the previous Government to build more citiespublic leaks and to all the houses safe roomsAs is known, the rooms reinforced with concrete and metal doors, which have been mandatory since 1993, have not arrived. Almost 40,000 peopleAlmost a third of the population lacks them, and many are angry at the Board of Directors. Benjamin Netanyahu. “Nobody understands what’s going on here! more than 160 flats they took direct effects and they keep shooting at us. “I want security, I don’t want to die,” the city’s mayor protested a few days ago. Tomer GlamNetanyahu’s religious friend.
“The New Holocaust”
“The government is not helping. I have three children and they have not been able to go out for three weeks,” says truck driver Hanan, 42. This Sunday morning there was no warning and more and more people are taking to the streets, but explosions can be heard in the background. Israeli attacks It is located in Gaza, just six kilometers away. It’s as if the world is spewing out ominous arches to constantly remind the public of the never-ending war. “For us, the Hamas attack was an event. new genocide“I want the people of Gaza to pay the price,” Hanan says. general sense of revengeimplemented after first shock of the attack. What to attend collective trauma and revived The inherent fragility of the Jewish people. “I don’t want peace, I want it Gaza should be destroyed. I don’t care if many children die. “If you kill my children, I will kill yours,” Hanan adds, without a trace of irony.
Departing from Ashkelon towards the towns on the northwestern border of Gaza, where the Israeli army has blocked access to the press burned areas Because of the impact of rockets. military trucks and with jeeps soldiers dressed for battle They travel on the roads. A group Talmud students He stood on the shoulder to listen to the bombings in Gaza. Pillars of black smoke erupted on the horizon. land raid Most Israeli soldiers are still marching. The artillery does not rest. Drones, helicopters and fighters whistle from time to time. It is not easy to transport because there are many. The road is blocked leaving them to the military.
Despair in Gaza
Despair on the Strip has reached new heights. Thousands of people bravely entered throughout the day four UNRWA depots get a sack Fame, wheat And cleaning products. “This is a worrying sign.” civil order The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said some of them came from Ashkelon, which has demanded punishment. Not everyone expresses themselves in Hanán’s terms or Yossi Brook, a volunteer. Chabad —Hasidic movement– distributes food to the few residents remaining in the area Sderot. Only 5% of its 35,000 souls. In the south alone, 25 towns were partially or completely evacuated. “Someone has to do it Erase Gaza from the face of the earth. “They don’t deserve to live,” Yossi says among ghost streets scarred by the war against the hooded Hamas men who have taken up residence here. Police station until he was blown up with them inside.
Other Israelis say they also feel empathy Civilians on the Stripbut all civilians in Gaza human shields And collateral victims. “Operating in such a densely populated area is very complex, but if there is terrorist activity We have to act, and it is very difficult to do this without losses,” says 28-year-old physiotherapist Vlad Rzheutski. According to him, the only good thing this war brought was Temporary pacification of Israeli society. “This brought us together again, now everyone is trying to help each other,” Rzheutski says.