78-year-old Eleonora after bomb in Israel: « My teeth are in there »
Oddly enough, the recently bombed neighborhood in Petah Tikva is also what is buzzing most of life. Otherwise, the suburb of Tel Aviv where a few hundred thousand Israelis live is completely still this Monday.
Car traffic is sparse and only individual people are visible on the streets that are dominated by high residential buildings next to industrial premises. Schools and preschools are closed, restaurants and shops are bombed. A state of emergency prevails.
But on the street outside the high -rise building that was hit by an Iranian missile early Monday morning, it is full of rescue personnel, construction workers, residents and spectators. A black -burned crater gaps where the apartments on floor two and three were previously located. All windows in the houses around have exploded, the balcony rails hang on the sneak and every car that was parked within the nearest kilometer needs to change the windshield.
« My teeth are in there, » says 78-year-old Eleonora, who sits on a bench on the street outside her house and holding a bag of donated sweets which she can’t eat.
She woke up at 4 o’clock of the wing alarm and sat in its shelter in the floor apartment with a garden on the ground floor.
– Everything is destroyed in my apartment. We were so nice and now everything is destroyed. Eight people are we who live together, my son and his wife and my grandchildren, the youngest is only 8 months, says Eleonora.
The apartment just above her was hit by the missile. The penetrated walls of her neighbors’ shelters, both were killed, as well as two people on the floor above. Race masses were thrown down through the roof to Eleonora.
– I am from Russia and have lived here for 34 years. I love Israel and have lived well here. Why can’t we live in peace? We don’t want war. Why do they want to do this to us? What else do they want after October 7?
Do you think it was right for Israel to attack Iran and start the war?
– I want peace for everyone. I don’t like war. We are all human beings. I have no problems with you, for example, ”says Eleonora, nodding to DN’s Palestinian interpreter.
After Israel, Iran attacked on Friday, the two arch enemies have exchanged fatal attacks against each other all weekend. Israel has killed a number of prominent nuclear scientists and high -ranking Iranian military, but also an unknown number of civilians – probably several hundred people. In Israel, 24 people have been killed and several hundred injured when Iran has gone counterpart.
This is not the first time the two countries have been in direct confrontation with each other, but the previous times, last spring and last fall, it has been an attack each.
Now the Israeli sounds The wing alarm app several times a day – and even more often at night. Israel, for its part, says that they control the entire Iranian airspace and reports from the capital Tehran testify to chaos and horror among the population.
– I woke up the whole family this morning and made sure we went to the shelter. That is why I live now, says 18-year-old Aviv.
He stands on the sidewalk with his clown fish in a small aquarium. It was most important for him to take with him now that the family had to evacuate – even though their apartment was not met as hard as those affected the worst, it is uninhabitable in the future.
Many people pull to say negative things about this war. It could be interpreted as a sign of weakness and the message of the Israeli government is that this is a time to be strong. Strong as the lion that this whole operation is named after: « The lion rises ».
– I actually feel very scared, says Aviv.
In front of the blocked entrance to the house hit the house stands a little boy with a helmet and khaki -barned protective vest. His name is Liden and is eight years old, he shows with his fingers, because he does not come to the English word.
« He has been wearing that since October 7, 2023, » says Lidor’s father, who has brought both his sons with him to look at the impact site.
But it’s not for fear Lider has a protective vest and helmet, emphasizes his father.
– No, it’s because he really loves IDF (the Israeli defense).
Lana is wearing a sweater with the text « Happiness is a Journey not a destination ». At her feet are bags of hiking boots, jogging shoes, clothes and a bicycle helmet.
– I packed down everything I could get hold of, this is what I managed to reach, she says.
Her and her husband’s apartment is located on the ninth floor of the house that was hit by the missile.
– I saw fire and lightning light and parts of the roof fell down on me. When we left the shelter we saw that everything was destroyed, that the whole house was like an inferno.
According to Lana, the rescue service called very quickly and checked if the couple lived and if they needed anything. They have been offered a hotel room to stay in, but Lana prefers to stay with her daughter who lives nearby. At least to begin with.
Are you mad?
– No, I’m abandoned. This is what happens. We are not the first and not the last to be exposed and I live anyway. Obviously I’m not happy.
Lana has lived in Israel for 29 years since she moved here from Ukraine. DN’s interpreter first happens to translate that she is from Russia, which causes a fire in Lana’s eyes to be lit for the first time during our conversation.
– Absolutely not Russia! I’m from Ukraine. It’s not the same thing.
Volunteers and emissions From the municipality work hard to clean up the neighborhood. Several lifting cranes are already in place and pull down damaged sheet metal and broken window panes. The prominent visits have replaced each other during the day, last was out was Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
– What I have seen here is evil, pure evil. It is evil directed at innocent civilians all over Israel. But I have news for the Iranian regime. You think you should tire us out or exhaust us, you are completely wrong. We are a very strong and resistant nation with very strong abilities in all areas, Herzog said in his speech from the site.
27-year-old Maor, who lives in an adjacent neighborhood, heard his president’s words.
– We are strong. That’s true. But I’ve had a really bad week. First my uncle’s house, now another relative. And my wedding is in a week. I think we will have to set.
Read more:
Nathan Shachar: Lack of shelters part in the explanation for mass escape from Tehran
