For the first time in seven days, traffic returned outside of Jerusalem. Starting this Sunday, those with an office bunker will be able to work in person. However, in Sderot, the first town on the Gaza border, the picture is very different. This enclave, almost completely evacuated, almost completely evacuated. The journalists who stayed in it did not leave the bunkers. There is one every 50 meters.
Because of its proximity to the border, Sderot is very accustomed to rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. When that happens, they only have 10 seconds to take shelter, which is why there are bunkers almost everywhere.
They are next to bus stops or playgrounds, easily recognizable by the little ones because of their decoration, with drawings and bright colors. In others, citizens left books voluntarily on a small improvised bookshelf outside, so that reading can help reduce panic.
Last Saturday, the brutal surprise attack carried out by Hamas in Israel caused Tel Aviv to declare war on Hamas with a severe response in Gaza. Today, thousands of Israeli soldiers are deployed on the border awaiting the final order for begin an operation “on land, sea and air” in the Stripwhile rocket launches were exchanged between the two sides.
More than 1,000 rockets hit Sderot in just one week
In this current ghost city, some public workers mark security perimeters and collect the remains of rockets that have impacted these days. They have been launched over 1,000 in just one week.
Citizens who did not leave say they are afraid of the response from Gaza if Israeli troops enter there, but they make sure that “This is the only way to end Hamas”, as an Israeli told TVE. They acknowledge, however, that the Gazati civilian population has suffered greatly.
Throughout Sunday morning, Israeli bombardments in Gaza could be heard, but in Sderot the siren did not sound for hours. Time to rest for some who chose to stay.
