Despair

The initial relief experienced by thousands of Palestinian families returning from southern to northern Gaza, sparked by a ceasefire, has quickly transformed into a harsh reality. As they confront the remnants of their once-vibrant communities—now reduced to bombed-out shells—despair creeps in, casting a long shadow over their hopes for a quick recovery. One of the immediate challenges is the acute shortage of running water. Families are now forced to stand in long lines for hours, filling plastic containers for drinking…

Up until about a year ago, Shai Ben-Yaish dedicated his efforts to developing an industrial zone in southern Israel that encompassed Gaza. This initiative was envisioned to generate wage opportunities for over 20,000 families in Gaza. "These factories were intended to provide livelihoods for more than 20,000 families in Gaza," Ben-Yaish, who is vying for the mayoral position in Sderot, shared with RTÉ News. Before the tumult on October 7, individuals like Ben-Yaish were at the helm of ambitious plans aimed at fostering…