Hell in the Sarder – we thought rockets were falling, and Hamas got home

Exclusive: 600 days war between Israel and Hamas

• And six hundred days after the attack on this southern city in Israel still feels the smell of blood, on gunpowder, on a severe atmosphere burdensome with uncertainty. Residents of this city say they do not cope with post -traumatic syndrome, but live in constant trauma. However, they are firmly determined to extend their lives in the seed, because there is their home
• Survivor of the attack tells us how terrorists dressed in uniforms The Israeli army stormed her home
• If you think it’s easy to walk on the streets and sidewalks where innocent civilians were killed, and even children, hmmm, you are lying, don’t go feet, believe me

With Michael Goldstein, a well -known lawyer not only in Israel, we are sitting in a restaurant in downtown Jerusalem. We are at dinner with his wife Isabel and the honorary consul of Israel to Macedonia, Gradimir Shumkovski. The dinner is cozy, with a Moroccan fish specialty and a pink wine made of an oenologist by a famous Macedonian winery.
« This is just a little proof that cooperation between Macedonia and Israel is possible in many fields, » Michael said. People like him do it and hope for much more. Shumkovski also reminds him of cooperation with Elbit systems, and that tourism can be a large open door for cooperation. But airline flights are also needed, for which there is an interstate agreement. The medical cooperation and the rapid reaction of the Israeli doctors after the accident in Kocani are also highlighted. Opportunity for our Israeli friends to thank once again.
While the conversation is taking place, my eyes are walking towards the people who went out in the walk for a walk. The weather is wonderful, and tomorrow it will be 36 degrees. It cannot be noticed that there are many young couples who are the decor of Israeli reality – the man pushes the trolley, hugged the woman, and he wears an automatic rifle on her shoulder.
Israel has been in great war since October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorist groups from Gaza entered the border and made a massacre that Israel does not remember recent history. When I came to Israel, exactly 600 days after the start of that war and the Israeli army’s military response to the Gaza Strip. And if many world agencies inform from the minute of the situation in Gaza, very little is written about what was happening and what is happening in Israel now. Has Israel lost its propaganda war? My impression is like that, but I don’t have to be right. When I am writing this, I also remember our Macedonian saga since 2001 and how the great world media were biased to the detriment of the Macedonian state. But that’s a war – the first bullet kills the truth, then bullets, bombs, rockets … sometimes they don’t choose goals.
Michael has four sons and three are in the Israeli Army (IDF) and are currently on the front in Gaza. When I asked him how he felt, I just looked at his breakthrough blue eyes and asked for the answer. Both he, like thousands of other fathers and mothers, hopes that peace will come, that the war will suddenly stop, but … Hope after that bloody hamas pyre is slow, almost gone. Everyone I talked to I pointed out that peace with Hamas could not have and that that terrorist organization, which is seriously dispersed, is a actual government of Gaza.

I go south, what will I see?

Early in the morning we, a group of Macedonian journalists led by Israel’s outgoing ambassador to Macedonia, Simona Frankel, go to the south of the country to the largest city in that part – the Sder. I’ve listened to the news many times and I know how information happened there on October 7. Now I have the opportunity to see on the spot. From Jerusalem to the Soder we lead us a great highway packed with vehicles and many trucks. The country works flawlessly and in military conditions. It is noticeable that hundreds of places on the highway were hung posters with the inscription – « Bring Home ». That’s the big Israeli wound – 58 people who are more than 600 days in hostage by Hamas. A huge civic movement has been activated for their return. Organizers say – we don’t ask how, but we want them to bring them home. This solid call is, of course, pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
We enter the soder through a roundabout, and the driver warns us – remember this place! We later watched security cameras video shows the terrorists from that place on October 7 with trucks in the city. The Seder, just one kilometer from Gaza, was at that moment in the morning prayer, Shabbat, and many believers did not carry mobile phones with them in religious responsibilities at that time. Unfortunately. It was in those moments that messages were sent that a red alert for attack was activated.

– I heard the alarm and immediately went to the security room. We were expecting a missile attack, but Hamas happened to get into our homes – a resident of the Sder is told, otherwise a volunteer at the Resistance Center, who works with people suffering from post -traumatic syndrome.
The terrorists entered a house to house, from an apartment in an apartment dressed in uniforms of the Israeli army and were recognized only by talking Arabic and repeatedly chanted: « Allah Akbar ». It only increased the chaos that took place on the streets, where it was not known who was shooting. The police building was attacked, which was completely destroyed in the shootings, and today is a monument to that bloody day. Civil vehicles have been stopped and executions have been carried out. Children have been liquidated without any emotions.
In Israel, all homes have safe rooms with metal protective doors, and there are at every bus stop and in public places. The rule says you have 15 seconds in Israel after the iron dome activation alarm is turned on to go to a shelter. That day, probably because of a diversion, part of the shelters did not activate protective doors, which meant certain death for more residents.
« I have been suffering from post -traumatic syndrome for a long time, » KA said. Employee of the Center, but I finally decided to work here and help myself and others – she says. On October 7, Hamas entered her apartment, but she still managed to take refuge in time.
– One will say, we do not live post -traumatic syndrome, we are in constant trauma! – she adds.

Something hard feels in the air

Her words haunted my thoughts for a long time. Just like children’s drawings painted while they were in shelters. Children’s tears the deepest seal.
I go out of the center and walk around the perfect and clean streets of the seed. The sun is a bake. I come to the place where the police station once was, and now a concrete monument is a landmark of that event. And a memorial plaque that tells who was killed there. I ask myself the question – why is such a massacre on civilians? This issue is more weighty if you know that many Palestinians from Gaza have been working in the seed and the surrounding area every day. So he’s just one kilometer distance. Obviously, someone intended to mentally shape that distance as an impassable black hole between two nations. Did Hamas succeed? Is it possible to build a bridge now and start a new life in peace?
Over my heads, the engines of Israeli drones, which are constantly active. From time to time you can feel the smell of gunpowder. Well, to tell myself, we are just one kilometer from the front. What is happening, however, there?
I feel that the hot air is even more difficult than this atmosphere that the Seder has overturned. Is it possible to live here without fear, without feeling that every moment can run out?
– Why do I live here? Because this is my home. This was also the home of my ancestors and I am determined to stay here. And my kids. I believe one day will be better, but not with Hamas. That’s why I stay here – tells us about leaving KA.
– I apologize, but I have to meet a woman who needs my help. To watch! Watching and I wish you all the best!
I’ll take a lunch break, then go not so far, but even closer to the gauze border.

Hristo Ivanovski (Our Special Rapporteur from Israel)

(Continues: In tomorrow’s « towards the border with Gaza – eucalyptuses dipped in blood »)