Residents of Sderot (population 30,000), which was brutally attacked by Hamas terrorists just 13 days ago, have found refuge in hotels around the country @ JPC’s Matias Sakkal had the opportunity to visit one of these hotels in Jerusalem and speak with the displaced, who temporarily call it home.
Jerusalem, October 24, 2023
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Sderot, a city in southern Israel, directly experienced the horrors of 10/7, together with other area towns and communities, as Hamas terrorists infiltrated from Gaza Strip and wreaked havoc. The results were devastating: innocent people murdered in the streets by gunmen while fleeing rockets, the local police station taken over and destroyed, and thousands displaced, plunging the city into an unforgettable nightmare.
The magnitude of the attack forced authorities to take extreme measures. In an effort to safeguard the population, a massive evacuation was carried out. Hundreds of families, many of whom had lost their homes in the attacks, were transported to hotels in Jerusalem and other cities around the country, seeking a safe haven. No one is sure for how long. Since conducting these interviews tens of thousands of people in Israel’s North have also been evacuated to protect them from the threat of an attack by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
What we found inside one of these hotels in Jerusalem is a story of resilience and humanity in the face of adversity. The evacuated families have turned this place into their temporary new home, creating a microcosm of the life they once knew in Sderot.
Residents and children playing in the hotel
“We’ve built a city within a hotel. We’ll be here for at least a month and a half. I hope it’s less, but that’s what the authorities have informed us,” says Elad Kalpa, while holding his 2-year-old baby.
In the hotel’s hallways and rooms, kindergartens have been established for children, providing a safe environment where they can play and learn, despite the circumstances. Activities have also been organized for adults seeking to regain some sense of normalcy amid the chaos they have experienced. Creativity and a spirit of community have given rise to a range of programs that keep the hotel’s tenants occupied – from magic shows for the kids to spontaneous synagogue services.
Despite efforts to recreate a sense of daily life, the trauma of the Hamas attack and the loss of homes remain palpable in every corner of the hotel. Nightfall often brings with it renewed fears, and conversations are interrupted by painful memories. The evacuated families, some of which lost everything, face a long and challenging path to recovery.
The spirit of unity and solidarity among the hotel’s tenants is evident. As the conflict continues and uncertainty reigns, these people have found temporary shelter, demonstrating the resilience Israelis often show in the face of adverse situations.
Youngsters with their bags at the hotel’s entrance
The future of the residents of Sderot remains uncertain. They continue their struggle to heal, rebuild, and keep hope alive in their hearts, all in their hotel rooms in Jerusalem. They thank God, and as one resident told us yesterday, they must maintain their belief that this will be over in the end.
“I have been forced to run away from my city, to leave my house, to see my friends and family running away from the things they know, to just get away from trouble and save their life,” says Aviya Davidi, “Think about it: Thousands of people running from their houses because there is a chance that tomorrow or in any moment somebody can get into their houses and murder them.”
At the same, she is trying to remain optimistic. “Here we are trying to keep our normal life together,” she says.
For more of JPC’s testimonies from Sderot:
- Testimony of Claudine AlEzra, 79 years old, who was evacuated from her home in Sderot to Jerusalem (In French) | October 19, 2023
- Aviya Davidi, Resident of Sderot who was evacuated to a hotel in Jerusalem, speaks about her experience | October 19, 2023
- Testimony of Dor Avitan: Sderot Resident Evacuated to Eilat | October 15, 2023
- Testimony of Gitit Botera, Resident of Sderot | October 9, 2023
- Tali Levy raconte ce dont elle a ete temoin pendant la journee d’ hier depuis l’attaque terroriste sur sa ville de Sderot (French) | October 8, 2023
- Ataque de Hamas a Sderot – Testimonio de Residente (Spanish) | October 8, 2023
