In the early hours of Sunday, an Iranian missile struck a ten-story residential building in Bat Yam, a city south of Tel Aviv known for its strong support of Israel’s right-wing government. The attack left at least eight dead and many more trapped under the debris.
Local residents expressed their backing for Israel’s military actions against Iran, which commenced on Friday. These operations have targeted various Iranian infrastructures, including nuclear facilities and missile sites.
“It needed to be done,” remarked Veronica Osipchik, 33, who lives just 200 meters from the impact site. “But we didn’t expect it to affect us like this.” Osipchik’s apartment suffered significant damage, with the windows and shutters blown out, reflecting the widespread destruction across neighboring buildings.
Sitting on a camping chair beside a suitcase filled with essentials, Osipchik stated, “We were in shock.” The missiles that struck Bat Yam are notably more powerful than the rockets typically launched by Hamas and Hezbollah, which have largely been intercepted by Israel’s advanced air defense systems.
Rescue efforts began swiftly, with the first of those trapped beneath the rubble rescued within hours. However, by late Sunday, three individuals remained unaccounted for. Rescue paramedic Ori Lazarovich described the emotional scene, saying, “I saw fear in their eyes. People came out all grey, covered in soot and ash and debris.”
Avi, a 68-year-old lifelong Bat Yam resident, voiced a resolute stance: “We need to keep hitting [Iran]. Of course we have to keep going. Otherwise, they’ll drop an atomic bomb on us.” He confidently added, “They’re weak. We’re much stronger. Israel is number one in the world.”
Eighteen-year-old Emil Mahmudov echoed this sentiment, stating, “We should have done this sooner. That’s what most Israelis think.”