Residents Displaced by Iran Strikes Face New War Fears

Seven months after Operation "Lion's Roar," residents whose homes were damaged by Iranian missile strikes are still struggling to rebuild their lives, as Israeli leaders discuss the possibility of further conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of Iran's renewed efforts to develop nuclear weapons, while the U.S. State Department is reportedly planning to evacuate some diplomatic staff from Saudi Arabia due to fears of escalation, particularly with the Houthis in Yemen.

Regine Shushan, 55, lost her Tel Aviv apartment entirely to an Iranian missile on the first night of the operation. "My house is completely gone. I lost everything," she told Ynet. Living in a rented apartment, she avoids buying new possessions, calling herself "a stylish homeless person." Shushan faces bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of ongoing psychological support, noting that her compensation from Property Tax is "so pathetic." She also recounts commercial companies demanding the return of destroyed equipment.

Ziva Abuaziz, 47, from Dimona, whose apartment building was also damaged, described the uncertainty faced by residents. "Nothing is clear yet," she stated. "We received alternative housing in slums, without protected rooms." She expressed despair, saying, "We are at a loss. If there is another campaign, and unfortunately it will probably happen, I will not go to work."

In Haifa, a missile strike seven months ago on Shimshon Street resulted in five deaths and extensive damage to an apartment building. Among the victims was 82-year-old Michael Katz, who died from his injuries after being rescued from the rubble. The eight families evacuated from the building estimate it will take four to five years for a new building to be constructed. Tal, a resident who lived in the damaged building with his wife Orain and their infant son Ilai, recounted shielding their child during the blast. "We miss the quiet and the green we had there," he said.

Senior Israeli officials have criticized Netanyahu's statements about an existential threat from Iran, suggesting he is "desperately trying to create a security agenda." However, an Israeli source familiar with intelligence suggested that Iran has indeed renewed its nuclear project and that an attack is "a matter of time," possibly occurring after the upcoming elections in Israel and the U.S.