South protests Gaza deal fearing more of the same
Residents of Gaza border communities burned tires and blocked roads in Sderot and Nir Am on Tuesday night, protesting the ceasefire agreed to by Israel and Hamas.
Meanwhile, peace groups around the country called for a nonviolent solution.
The protests came after close to 500 projectiles were fired at the South from Gaza within 25 hours on Monday and Tuesday, the largest amount of rockets ever fired at Israel from the enclave within that space of time.
A 48-year-old Palestinian man from Hebron, Mahmoud Abu Asba, was killed and two other women were seriously injured when a rocket struck an apartment building in Ashkelon overnight on Monday. Asba is survived by his wife and six children.
It was the second residential building in Ashkelon to sustain a direct hit. Dozens of others were injured, including a soldier who was seriously wounded in an attack on a bus filled with soldiers in Kfar Aza.
The protesters said the ceasefire is simply more of the same in a cycle of violence, which has them holed up in safe rooms on a regular basis. Under the banner “We’re tired of shutting up,” they intend to protest in a way that will attract public attention.
On Tuesday night, they gathered to burn tires and block roads at the Sderot and Nir Am junctions. On Wednesday, they plan to block roads in the heart of Tel Aviv with a clear message calling for an end to the cycle of violence in the South.
“It’s better to suffer in the safe rooms, and once and for all for them to put an end to this,” Reut Bassis from Sderot told Channel 2 News. “I know that a month from now it will be the same thing again – another few days and again there will be missiles, and nothing will have changed. It’s unreasonable that this is how our lives look.”
“We decided to protest against the agreement – we’re shooting ourselves in the feet,” Channel 2 quoted Miri from Sderot as saying.
“The IDF demolishes empty buildings, and at the same time they send them trucks with concrete and building materials,” she said. “We have been at war for 17 years, our children are soldiers. They have PTSD. We are no longer willing to let them fool us, we do not believe neither the government nor its leader.”
Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay said the residents of the South who are protesting are right. The government continues to abandon them.
“For four years, [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu
abandoned the residents of the periphery and neglected the Gaza issue. Just like he escaped from dealing with housing prices, the health system and roads. The nightmare that the residents of the South have undergone today is Netanyahu’s responsibility,” Gabbay continued. “It is possible to change the reality around us. This is not the time for another fragile ceasefire. This is the time for a genuine political initiative in Gaza, based on the recommendations of the defense establishment,” he added.
At the same time the protests in the South took place, the Standing Together movement alongside various peace groups held demonstrations in Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, calling for peace.
“Instead of war and fear and bloodshed we should lift the siege of Gaza, end the occupation, and actively pursue a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace,” the movement said. “The pain of suffering casualties, the fear of another night without sleep and the question why – are now the lot of very many people. We want – we must – change this reality. This conflict has gone on far too long. Again and again it flares up. Again we hear arrogant statements about ‘it’s time to teach them a lesson,’ which do not and should not give anyone a feeling of confidence.”
“We must take a new path,” the group continued. “Residents of southern Israel and residents of Gaza, Israelis and Palestinians – only peace can guarantee security to all of us. Only peace will ensure quiet nights – this is the only way. Let’s end spreading hatred and sowing fear, let’s end this pain. Today, especially today, let us demand what should have taken place long ago, the only thing that can ensure life: lifting of the siege, ending the occupation and achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace. We deserve a happy ending to this sad and difficult story.”
Meanwhile, in Beersheba, the condition of the soldier who had been wounded in the mortar attack on the bus had improved. He remained in stable to moderate condition in Soroka Medical Center’s intensive care unit. He had been evacuated to the hospital in critical condition on Monday and underwent a life-saving operation upon arrival.
In addition, a 40-year-old man was moderately wounded in the Ashkelon area, many others were lightly wounded by shrapnel.
Soroka received 15 casualties, of which nine were wounded, others suffered from anxiety attacks. Two of them, including the driver of the soldiers’ bus, were being treated in Soroka’s Emergency Department.
Barzilai Medical Center said it has treated a total of 93 patients, 44 who are suffering from anxiety, and 46 with slight physical injuries. Two moderately injured people and one severely wounded person were transferred to Tel Hashomer hospital.
Early in the day, municipalities across the country invited residents of the South to their cities to escape rocket fire and instead enjoy municipal services and activities. The municipalities helped to coordinate between those who offered to host southern residents in their homes. Some hotels invited residents of the Gaza communities to stay at their accommodations free of charge.
Anna Ahronheim contributed to this report. •