Residents of Homes Destroyed by Iranian Missiles Share Trauma and Fear of New Conflict

Seven months after Operation "Lion's Roar," Israelis whose homes were destroyed by Iranian missiles are speaking out about their current struggles and reacting to recent threats against Iran and Hezbollah made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz on October 21. Regine Shoshan, 55, lost her Tel Aviv apartment, where she had lived for a decade, in the first night of the war with Iran. "I lost everything, absolutely everything," she stated, detailing the loss of her work materials for a second academic degree, lesson plans, and photography equipment. Shoshan, who worked as an interior designer and hosted students, now lives in a rented apartment, avoiding purchases that might replace her lost belongings. She described herself as "homeless but living with style," with her rented space resembling an Airbnb listing. While the state compensates her for expenses, she notes that the compensation from the Tax Authority was "ridiculous" as it was not her own home. Shoshan has not yet received victim status despite suffering from constant headaches and needing therapy, with an organization called "Imcha" providing 24 therapy sessions, after which she could not afford more. She expressed frustration with officials, saying, "No one helps, no one calls, no one asks how I feel. I am alone in this battle." Her parents' home was also destroyed by an Iranian missile during Operation "People-Lion" in June 2025, leaving them hospitalized for three months. "When I hear about a new confrontation with Iran, I freeze," Shoshan admitted, experiencing stress that has affected her heart. Ziva Abuaziz, 47, from Dimona, had her apartment building destroyed by a missile explosion in March 2026. The building is deemed irreparable and will be demolished. "Housing is unclear," Abuaziz complained, noting that residents of "Amidar" apartments were told to wait indefinitely. A year after the attack, residents received funds for one year of rental housing. Abuaziz stated that their housing committee is being ignored, and they feel forgotten. They were moved to alternative housing without a protected space, a concern for her disabled husband who cannot reach a shelter quickly. She fears she won't be able to work if a new war begins. In Haifa, four residents of a building on Shimshon Street, Lena Ostrovski, 68, her husband Vladimir Gershovich, 73, their 42-year-old son Dima, and 29-year-old daughter-in-law Lucille, died in an Iranian shelling on April 4, 2026. An eighth victim, 82-year-old Michael Katz, died in July after a prolonged hospital stay. Eight families survived. The destroyed building was evacuated and demolished, with residents in rented apartments. They estimate it will take four to five years for a new building plan to be approved. Tal and Orian Aaronovitch, with their infant, initially stayed with parents before moving to a rental. They praised the Haifa Municipality and the Home Front Command for their assistance. The couple narrowly escaped the April 4 shelling, shielding their child with their bodies as the explosion occurred. They still miss their old home and visit the site, knowing they won't return for several years. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, "We will cut off the head of the Iranian octopus."