Israelis take cover in a bomb shelter as sirens for incoming rockets launched from the Gaza strip sound in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Image: Reuters)
Indian-origin Israelis as well as Indians working in Israel are living in fear of a full-blown Iran-Israel war.
Indians living in Israel are concerned about a full-blown war between Iran and Israel and are living in a constant state of fear and concern.
Tensions remain high in West Asia as Iran and its proxies have warned of making Israel pay a heavy price for the death of Hamas’ political wing chief even though Israel did not claim responsibility or deny its role in Haniyeh’s death.
“People in Israel are storing rations and water for days to come in case Iran attacks,” Zipora Meir, a Kerala-born Indian settled in Israel told CNN-News18.
“It’s a very tense situation now in Israel. At any moment the war can break out. We cannot expect from which part or all parts they are going to attack. So we are getting prepared to face tough days and are collecting food and mineral water and other emergency items,” Meir said.
“Schools are not open due to summer vacation, but offices and hotels are open. We are told by the government to listen to sirens and go into the shelters. We pray this time Iron Dome and other air defence mechanisms work and we remain protected,” she further added.
Indian workers who are not well-versed in English have received messages from Israeli authorities in their language. Many from southern borders have been brought to central Israel and are living in hotels, CNN-News18 has learned.
Meir said that people are trying to lead their lives normally but are taking necessary precautions. She is a resident of Ramla, a city 23 kms away from Tel Aviv and had arrived in the nation during the 70s.
“We had the bar mitzvah of our grandson on Thursday in a synagogue in Tel Aviv. We followed all precautions as we were worried because we were in Tel Aviv, an area Iran has said it would target,” she said.
Iran and its proxies have vowed vengeance and Iran has indicated that Lebanese terror group Hezbollah, which it backs, will hit deeper inside Israel and no longer be confined to military targets after Israel killed the Hezbollah military commander.
“We expect… Hezbollah to choose more targets and (strike) deeper in its response,” said the mission quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
“Secondly, that it will not limit its response to military targets.”
The killing of the Qatar-based Haniyeh is among a series of tit-for-tat attacks since April that had already heightened fears of a regional conflagration.
His death came hours after Israel struck south Beirut, killing the Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr.