Northern Israel evacuees express frustration over perceived neglect as IDF preemptively strikes Hezbollah targets threatening Tel Aviv.
Evacuees from Israel's North expressed anger at being neglected after the IDF thwarted Hezbollah attacks aimed at Tel Aviv.
After Israeli intelligence observed that Hezbollah was about to launch its largest attack of the current war, including to the Tel Aviv and central Israel areas early Sunday, the IDF preemptively and independently struck targets where Hezbollah was on the verge of firing on Israel.
"The fate of Kiryat Shmona should be the same as the fate of Tel Aviv," said Matan Davidian, a coordinator of evacuees from Shlomi and organizer in the Fighting for the North forum.
"The State of Israel attacked preemptively for the residents of the Center while, for ten months, residents of the North have been living under fire, far from their homes and families."
"The dozens of killed and injured unfortunately don't mean anything to the prime minister who is hiding behind a failing defense minister, abandoning the northern border and the residents, and simply does not care if our blood is spilled."
Head of the forum of regional councils along Israel's northern border and Asher Regional Council head, Moshe Davidovitch, also pointed to the frustration felt by many in the north at seeing an attack aimed at Tel Aviv garner a response they have not seen to attacks on the north.
North demands equal protection
While he welcomed the IDF's attack, Davidovitch emphasized that the fate of the north and center should be the same and that the state should not only act when there is a focused threat on Tel Aviv or the center.
Davidovotch addressed the government and cabinet, stressing that "the ultimate goal is to find a solution for the north and bring the uprooted residents back home."
"We feel as if they are playing Russian roulette with us," said Nahariya resident and Fighting for the North forum member Moriyah Reder.
"Our reality is absurd," she said, adding that she didn't think her children would know what a Red Alert was, and now they experience them daily."
Gantz says Israeli strikes on Hezbollah ‘too little, too late’
National Unity chair Benny Gantz says Israel’s preemptive strike on Hezbollah in Lebanon this morning was “too little, too late,” adding that the government should have worked to ensure northern residents could return to their homes by September 1, the start of the academic year.
During a visit to northern communities, Gantz says in a video statement Israel must deliver “results” instead of carrying out mirror responses to Hezbollah attacks — it must switch “from response to initiative.”
“We must keep up the advantage of the initiative that was taken and increase the political and military pressure. To push Hezbollah away, to return northern residents to their homes safely,” Gantz says.
“It is forbidden to continue deserting the north. I call on members of the government to wake up. Come live here in the north and feel the pain of the residents, the reality on the ground that must change,” he says.
‘Don’t call’: Northern leaders say they’re cutting off contact with government
Leaders of northern regional councils announce they are ceasing contact with the government until it delivers a full plan to return their residents safely to their communities and rehabilitate the region.
“We haven’t interested you for 10 and a half months, and from now on, you don’t interest us. Don’t call, don’t come, don’t send messages. We have managed alone until now, we will manage,” a joint statement by Mateh Asher Regional Council head Moshe Davidovich, Metula Mayor David Azoulay, and Upper Galilee Reginal Council Giora Zaltz reads.
The message comes after leaders expressed their outrage at the government that Israel’s preemptive strike on Hezbollah this morning was aimed at preventing attacks on central Israel, while the military has not shown such initiative while their communities have been under fire since October 8.
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