Sunday was a difficult day for residents of the Greater Sderot Area, a difficult day that followed a number of similar days, during which tens of Kassam rockets and mortar shells pounded areas in the western Negev. Children in Sderot and area schools on Sunday were not permitted in school yards and they were compelled to remain in safe rooms and shelters.

Sderot school officials are working to arrange for the transportation of children to nearby areas that are out of rocket range for the time being to permit the students to resume being children, at least for brief periods of the day.

One area resident, Carmit Ben-Shimol questions “What are these reports regarding rocket attack and ‘no injuries’. There is no such thing. The panic, the fear, the explosions. This is a period of madness.”

Carmit explains that she sleeps with socks so if there is a Color Red at night, she can run down the steps without slipping. Everything she does she explains surrounds preparedness for the next attack. Her dad, Charlie, showed reporters he does not have a safe room. He already sustained damaged in his home, where he has lived for decades, blaming those who “gave Gaza back to the PA (Palestinian Authority)”.

The fear is not only evident on the faces of children, the experts explain, but the parents are also exhibiting signs of stress and related symptoms as a result of Hamas’ escalation in attacks.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)