Hundreds of residents from the Gaza border area and southern Israel gathered on Sunday evening for a rally called “The North Is Not Alone” at the Keshet Junction in Sha’ar HaNegev, showing support for residents of northern Israel and border communities. The event was described as nonpartisan and was initiated by Yaniv Hagi of Kibbutz Be’eri, together with the Kibbutz Movement, the Moshavim Movement, the city of Sderot and regional councils in the Gaza envelope.
Hagi said the crowd included people with different political views, adding, “If we can be partners in the same rally and sing Hatikvah together, we can also be partners in the same country.” Amit Yifrach, secretary general of the Moshavim Movement and chairman of the Israel Farmers Association, stressed the bond between north and south, saying that despite the geographic distance, “all our communities are one body” and that “you are not alone” in this difficult time.
Lior Shmama, secretary general of the Kibbutz Movement, praised the Gaza border residents for standing with the north and called it “an unforgettable lesson in mutual responsibility.” He said those who endured “the intense upheaval of October 7” were finding the strength to support people in the north. Michal Uziyahu, head of the Eshkol Regional Council, said that from their own experience of living in an area of conflict, it was important to tell northern residents, “You are not alone,” and that security and resilience in both north and south are a national responsibility.
Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi said southern residents know the feelings of uncertainty and displacement from home, and wanted to send the north a message of “embrace, partnership and hope.” Sha’ar HaNegev head Ori Epstein said border communities understand what it means to live along a frontier and wanted to tell northern residents that “their voice is also our voice.” Heads of Hof Ashkelon and Sdot Negev also backed the display of solidarity. Sdot Negev chief Tamir Idan summed up the rally by saying the north and south are “one front,” and that from the south they are calling for the return of security to northern communities.
