- Title: ISRAEL: Israelis who live near Gaza border leave homes under rocket threat
- Date: 25th August 2014
- Summary: NIR AM, ISRAEL (AUGUST 25, 2014) (REUTERS) SMOKE IN SKY AND AUDIO OF BOOMS AS IRON DOME SYSTEM APPEARS TO HAVE INTERCEPTED PROJECTILE FIRED FROM GAZA SHUTTERED HOUSES AT NIR AM KIBBUTZ (FARMING COMMUNE) SHUTTERED WINDOWS AND EMPTY PATIO FURNITURE OUTSIDE OF HOUSE SHUTTERED WINDOWS AND EMPTY CLOTHES DRYER RACKS OUTSIDE OF HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAEL'S INTERNAL SECURI
- Embargoed: 9th September 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: War / Fighting
- Reuters ID: LVAB2G03RXVRUOUJJMJO6XO7JK6W
- Story Text: Puffs of smoke in the sky, and the boom of explosions - it's a scene repeated continuously Israel's Iron Dome defence system activates in an attempt to stop rockets fired by militants in Gaza.
But despite high tech precautions, many Israelis living on farming communes near Gaza have left the area, at least until calm returns to the area.
Israeli Interior Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, toured the kibbutz of Nir Am Monday (August 25).
"There are people who leave, naturally. There are people who stay. Here where we are today almost everybody stayed. Soon the school year is expected to start. This also encourages people to stay and start the year, as much as they can," Aharonovitch said.
"The situation is not simple. There were (rocket/mortar) hits during the meeting here. But people are strong. We try to strengthen them economically and militarily. The question as far as they are concerned is where this is going to. And there are options. There is the option of an arrangement being discussed, returning again to the table of talks in Cairo. And what I think should happen is mainly a victory, to prevail inside (Gaza) and go in and make sure there is no more mortar shooting," the minister added.
Micha ben Hillel, a resident of the Kibbutz who has stayed, said he understood why some might want to leave.
"Well, the situation is very tense. There's no doubt about it. And, I believe that most of the people, most of the civilians living here, especially families with children have the full right to live - to move to a safe place during these days of hostilities," ben Hillel said.
Militants launched about 40 rockets from Gaza at southern Israel on Monday, causing no casualties, the Israeli army said.
Palestinian health officials say 2,119 people, most of them civilians including more than 400 children, have been killed in Gaza since July 8, when Israel launched an offensive with the declared aim of ending rocket fire into its territory.
Sixty-four Israeli soldiers and four civilians in Israel have been killed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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