On Shabbat, when Hamas’ attack on Israeli cities along the Gaza Strip was still in full swing and the government appeared to be in a state of shock, many Israelis began organizing aid for the affected towns and cities. Many simply got in the car and drove away. Many of them to fight against Hamas, as the army was initially visibly disoriented and, after sending troops from other parts of the country, made slow progress due to the systematic approach to the many crime scenes.
Since Sunday and Monday, when the army finally regained full control of all the sites, thousands of people have helped – some on their own, others as volunteers through humanitarian aid organizations. Several large collection and distribution centers – most of them underground due to fears of rocket attacks – have now been activated. Many places were evacuated, but in many others, such as the town of Sderot, many residents were left behind.
Portal/Ronen Zvulun Blood donation centers like this one in Jerusalem are full across the country
Merchants deliver to customers in the district
The elderly, people with disabilities and the sick are often particularly affected. Neighbors and operators of small supermarkets, many of whom have known their clientele personally for years, immediately began looking out for them. One of them, an Israeli Arab woman in Sderot, was interviewed by Kan TV on Thursday. There are still rocket alarms several times a day in the city of 28,000, and many currently remain permanently in shelters.
She said she now delivers food and other everyday items to the homes and apartments of many seniors. And she concluded the interview with an appeal to Hamas to release the hostages, accusing the Islamic terrorist organization of violating Islam by using violence against civilians.
Humanitarian organizations collect and distribute essential items
Several groups have also been in action for days, such as Achim LaNeschek (German: “Brothers in Arms”). It is a group of militiamen that was founded in protest against the current right-wing government and is a leader in the protests that have been going on for months (and have now been suspended) against the planned restructuring of the judiciary. On Sunday, the movement transformed into an aid organization. Using their own cars, volunteers brought and are taking people from the attacked locations to other parts of the country.
Many find accommodation with other families – often without knowing each other beforehand. At the same time, Achim LaNeschek and many other groups are delivering clothing, food, medicine and toys to border towns and also to hotels in other parts of the country where refugees are currently staying. Many of them fled in their pajamas and didn’t have time to pack even a small suitcase.
Portal/Violeta Santos Moura People help elderly people after rocket attack in Ashdod
Solidarity from around the world
There is also a lot of solidarity from abroad. In many Jewish communities around the world, aid packages are currently being drawn up and sent to Israel. The youth movements of the Viennese cultural community have already sent help. Many also fly to Israel to be able to help there – whether in the military or civilian sector.
Requests for help via TV and radio
Israeli media constantly advertise hotline numbers and put people in need of help in touch with humanitarian organizations – often live. Relatives of missing people are interviewed and ask the public if anyone knows anything about the whereabouts of the missing people.
Orin Ganz, whose 18-year-old daughter Eden is missing, said Thursday he only knew she was injured and needed medical attention. But she doesn’t know if she is somewhere in Israel or if she was kidnapped in the Gaza Strip. If so, despite all of Hamas’ atrocities, she trusts that she will be well taken care of.
Psychological help
There are also tips from psychologists via TV and radio on the best way to deal with the shock, the flood of reports and, mainly, the images about Hamas’ atrocities.
Especially in the first three days, when Hamas fighters were still ravaging cities and people had to barricade themselves in, the telephone and a call to television stations were the only way for many to ask for help. The emergency services and military were overwhelmed in this regard and were often constantly busy or did not receive a call back or did not respond for too long.
Telephone Guidance for Entrenched Children
Psychologists repeatedly emphasize, through the media, how important it is now – even for those who have not been directly affected – to talk about traumatic events. At the same time, it is advisable to watch as few videos as possible showing the crimes, often distributed by Hamas itself. There are special tips for children and their parents on how to feel this at a time that the entire country has been feeling for days
that he had lost all security.
Many psychologists currently volunteer on helplines, such as the Ministry of Education. One described how she kept in contact for hours with an eight-year-old boy who was alone with his younger brother in a dark secure room while terrorists were in the house, and at the same time alerted emergency services and directed them to the scene. . correct address.
Great emotional connection
Many Israelis feel that the attack on their own cities and homes represents an unprecedented loss of a fundamental sense of security – despite all the dangers posed by the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians. Some told the media that they felt like their grandparents and great-grandparents when they were persecuted and murdered by the Nazis.
And injured people, relatives of missing people and deployed soldiers repeatedly emphasize in interviews that national sympathy helps them. Talking openly about traumatic experiences, one’s own suffering and uncertainty in the face of missing family members not only triggers a wave of solidarity, but also makes all the deep divisions in Israeli society forgotten – at least temporarily.