The clear skies over Sderot, the closest Israeli city to the Gaza Strip, less than 1 kilometer from the enclave, were criss-crossed by broad white trails on Sunday, December 3. The traces were left by planes returning from bombing missions, but also by missiles fired by Israel's anti-aircraft defense system, the Iron Dome, in pursuit of Hamas's rockets. Out of 10 shots, one exploded on launch, five were intercepted, but four hit targets in the town, empty houses, streets and a small synagogue, also deserted.
"There have been no casualties," said Ronen Garbai, 45, the town's security officer, about the recent shelling. "But we're been very surprised. The army said it had destroyed most of Hamas's capabilities since the bombardments began in October. These rockets came from Khan Yunis. Apparently, they've moved their launch pads."
With his arm in a sling, Garbai is slowly recovering after being hit by two bullets in the shoulder on October 7, when Hamas militiamen burst into the town, killing some 40 people and wounding dozens more.
On this Sunday, there were not many people to witness these attacks from the sky. Of the 34,000 people who lived in Sderot before the attack, only around 5,000 remain, according to local authorities. "We don't want to bring people back until the town is totally secure," said the town hall. "At the same time, we don't want our city to become off-limits either, so it remains open." Police officers guard the entrance to the town, but after a quick inspection, they let visitors in.
'No obstacle between Sderot and the sea'
Time seems to have stood still in Sderot. The banners and decorations unfurled in early October for the religious holiday of Sukkot are still there. Schoolyards and playgrounds echo with silence. People have fled to the homes of friends and family in other towns, while others have taken refuge in hotels paid for by the government. Two months after the attack on October 7, the streets still bear the imprint of the terror that gripped the city that day. Among the stores and public services, only two grocery stores, a bakery and a medical center are open for a few hours a day. A kebab shop has opened, serving mainly soldiers.
Some locals do also come to taste the local chawarmas, like Sivan, with his two young children, who have come to visit him and pick up some belongings. "People won't come back until there's safety and security," assured Sivan, who preferred not to give his surname. "For that to happen, there will have to be no obstacles between Sderot and the sea, or even as far as Egypt." It was his way of saying that he saw no solution as long as Palestinians kept living in Gaza. "You have to understand," said Ruth Kuchnik, the kebab's owner, by way of explanation, "Sderot will never be Sderot again, local customers have died and also many inhabitants from the neighboring kibbutz who liked to come here. If Hamas isn't destroyed, people won't come back."
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