INN: Government officials estimated Tuesday that about half of the population in northern Israel has fled to safer ground.“Some can’t go back, but many just don’t want to. People have left businesses, and many more have not worked for the last 10 days,” according to Daniel Meron, head of the Foreign Ministry’s human rights and humanitarian affairs.

Many Israelis are staying with families and friends throughout the country, and others are living in hotels. Eilat tourism officials said hotels in the city are booked solid.