EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW CAUGHT IN A COUNTRY AT WAR

On Oct 7, Hamas-led terrorists launched a multi-pronged attack on Southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1200 people, injuring around 6,900 and taking around 240 hostages. Consequently war broke out - just as a Melbourne couple arrived in Tel Aviv in the early part of their Mediterranean holiday. Gary and Miranda spoke exclusively to ESL about their experience.

ESL: When did you arrive in Israel?

A: Friday, Oct 6.

ESL: How did you find out about the war?

A: We woke up to hear of an attack near Gaza. We were shown what to do if the air raid siren went off – go down the stairwell to the basement, away from windows. Minutes later, the siren actually did go off. We then learnt that Israel was now at war.

ESL: What we re your plans? A: It was lovely day so we went for a walk. As it was the Sabbath and a Jewish holiday, the streets were empty and everything was closed. At night we ventured out but nothing was open except a small supermarket. We were in the checkout queue when we heard explosions. Gary said to get down on the ground. We were the only ones doing this, and everyone else was just looking at us. We then made our purchases, and we had just stepped outside when the siren sounded so we rushed back in and everybody raced to the safe area at the back of the shop.

We then learned that those explosions were the sounds of the iron dome intercepting the Hamas rockets, so they were keeping us safe. Throughout the week, there would be several more sirens, so we had to be ready at any time of the day or night to go to the bomb shelter.

ESL: What did you do the following day? There had been no sirens that day so we felt a little safer to walk a bit further. We had also been instructed that if a siren was to go off, we could seek shelter in an underground carpark or in the stairwell of any apartment block where most people were keeping their keypads unlocked. Gary wanted to walk to the beach. I said, “but there are no bomb shelters there!”

No sooner had the words come out of my mouth that I realized that that was something I had never said before! The streets were a little busier than the day before and a few shops were open.

Usually, in Israel it is com mon to see soldiers patrolling the streets, but we saw none the whole time we were in Israel, except for one stationed out the front of the hotel who explained he was just there for reassurance. He didn’t carry any weapons.

ESL: Were you scared? A: Yes, as the days passed I was jumping at every sound expecting the alarm to sound at any moment. At the same time, we were constantly on the lookout for somewhere to hide if the siren sounded.

ESL: What was your plan then? A: Our plans changed from one hour to the next. Airlines were cancelling. Meanwhile, we were moved to a larger hotel, which was filling up fast with families from the affected areas. Some brought their dogs with them.

ESL: What was the general feeling?

A: Car loads of clothes, shoes and toys for the evacuees were arriving. There was an overwhelming amount, and everybody who was able, was pitching in and helping. We also helped by unloading the boxes and bags and carrying them to the ballroom upstairs for sorting. Of the people we spoke to, none were from the kibbutz that had been attacked, but it’s safe to say the whole country was deeply affected. Every day teenage girls would arrive to help out with the younger kids. They would normally have been at school. Overall, there was a real community spirit, with everyone united in shock and grief, yet on the surface there was a veneer of normalcy.

ESL: How d id you get out of Israel?

A: We applied for a repatriation flight to London. We finally flew out on Friday, Oct 13 and when we arrived at Heathrow, we were met by Steven Smith, the High Commissioner to the UK, the Australian press and people from the local Jewish community holding welcome banners. We were treated almost like celebrities. We were told that we were going to stay for four nights, after which we would fly to Dubai, then Sydney. We made our own way to Melbourne.

ESL: Would you go back to Israel once this is all over? A: Yes. We would do the tour and cruise we missed out on, because all we saw was the (mostly) empty streets of Tel Aviv.