The city of Netivot in southern Israel, known as a hub for mystical rabbis, managed to avoid the worst of the Hamas-led attack on October 7, thanks to what many residents believe was miraculous intervention by the Jewish sages buried there. Despite this, there is little sympathy among the residents for the suffering of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, their neighbors across the fence.
Many Israelis, like Michael Zigdon who runs a food shack in Netivot, blame Hamas for the violence and do not feel sorry for the Gazans. The trauma of the attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of many civilians, still haunts Israelis. The subsequent Israeli military offensive in Gaza has caused further destruction and loss of life, with tens of thousands of Palestinians, including children, killed.
The lack of sympathy for the people of Gaza is not limited to one political ideology in Israel. Even liberal residents like Rachel Riemer from Urim find it hard to pity the civilians in Gaza, whom they see as complicit in the atrocities committed by Hamas. Many Israelis believe that Hamas is responsible for starting the war and for using civilians as shields for their fighters.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is acknowledged by some Israelis, but they also accuse Hamas of stealing aid meant for the needy population. The suffering and hunger in Gaza are not widely covered in the Israeli media, which focuses more on the Israeli casualties and the heroism of soldiers.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza is viewed as a battle for survival by many Israelis, who see it as a continuation of the historical struggles faced by the Jewish people. The emotional wounds from the October 7 attack run deep, leading to a lack of empathy for the suffering of the Gazan civilians. The world’s attention may have shifted away from the events of that day, but for many Israelis, the pain and anger remain.