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The explosive balloons again threaten the Gaza Strip: "Everything turns upside down as soon as the traumas return"

Residents have already forgotten the harsh sights of the fields and burned areas, but the fires from the incendiary balloons this week brought them back to those days. "The situation is deteriorating and we can already imagine another round of escalation," they say. "We do not care who is responsible, want to return to routine without fear"

• Surrounding the Gaza Strip
• Incendiary balloons
• Gaza Strip

Yanir will defend

Dozens of fires broke out today (Monday) in the Gaza Envelope as a result of incendiary balloons. The fire consumed some of the agricultural fields in the Sha'ar Hanegev, Eshkol and Sdot Negev regional councils, and an explosive balloon was also found in the Merhavim regional council. The harsh sights and sounds of explosions have been accompanying the residents of the Gaza Strip for seven days in a row, following which the discourse surrounding the escalation in Fatah is intensifying, and the anxieties and traumas of the past are also returning.

"In Gaza, they woke up, they raise their heads, and the situation is not sympathetic. Everything we wanted to forget about returns," describes Meirav Cohen of Kibbutz Ein Hashlosha. "The sights are not pleasant, the atmosphere is starting to heat up and there is concern among some residents." She says that "we do not care who is responsible, we just want to return to a state of routine and not of fear," adding: "I hope the government is not waiting for a disaster to resolve the situation in the Gaza Strip."

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Eyal Hajabi, head of the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council, was present at all the fires in the council's areas. And the fire returned to us a week ago. "Since then, there have been several fires in the envelope sector, along with the explosive balloons that are blowing up and exploding over our settlements," Hajabi says. "Only three of them exploded today, and Hamas fired rockets at the sea. Yesterday, shots were also fired at border guards. The situation is deteriorating. "

Hajabi also describes the concern among the residents." Here in the Gaza Strip, we are dealing not only with the corona plague, but also with the explosive and incendiary balloons, "he says." We can certainly see ourselves escalating. "Although we see that there is a change in the state's response, because the IDF is responding to every incident - there is a fear soon by the residents in the last week of the increase in terrorism in front of the Gaza Strip."

More on Walla! NEWS

Dozens of fires in the Gaza Strip since this morning, suspected to have been caused by incendiary balloons

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Maayan Shenor from the Enrichment Path, says that the anxieties from the difficult times that the residents are trying to forget have already returned to accompany their daily lives. "Again in one moment, without any warning, everything turns upside down," she describes. "The clear summer sky is becoming threatening. All the fears, anxieties and fears are floating and rising again. Balloons, fires, launches and echoes of explosions again - as if the troubles brought by the corona were not enough for us."

Ofer Lieberman from Kibbutz Nir Am also feels the increase in fear and anxiety. "Unfortunately, this situation takes us back a few years. The recent warming brings back the traumas and fears of families in the Gaza Strip," he says. "In the Gaza Envelope, they are dealing not only with the corona, but also with explosive and incendiary balloons, with red paint and missiles."

Lieberman is also pointing the finger of blame at the state. "What is happening is that we have lost the deterrent," he claims. "The Palestinians have to think a hundred times before they launch a balloon or a missile at us, and I do not think that is what is happening."