“Come in and close the door.” Just a mile from the Lebanese border, Hezbollah rocket and missile attacks have intensified since October 8 of last year. “Let's hope there are no bombings. This is one, two, three.” Since then, dozens of rockets have been fired into northern Israel almost daily, in what Hezbollah has said is in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. And although many are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome, it has fundamentally altered daily life here. We caught a glimpse of increasing militarization, after Israel recently began its ground invasion of Lebanon. “The border with Lebanon is right there and the fighting is right behind this ridge. We see what the army does. We trust the army, we know that the army does everything necessary to keep Hezbollah out and to keep us safe. And you can see during that, as we speak. Therefore, we may have to act quickly in case of another explosion.” Ishai Efroni is one of the few people still in northern Israel and was left behind after tens of thousands of people were evacuated due to Hezbollah rocket attacks. “That is the pool, the center of the kibbutz. “It has been abandoned.” As head of security at the Matzuva kibbutz, Ishai lives here with his family and among those serving in the military, whom we agreed not to film. “That is the school, the kibbutz school that [was] abandoned. My daughter lives there and was hit by a rocket here almost five days ago.” According to the Israeli government, 30 civilians have been killed by Hezbollah rocket attacks in northern Israel over the past year, and more than 64,000 people have been displaced, something the Israeli prime minister has cited as his justification for pursuing Hezbollah in Lebanon. “And Israel has every right to eliminate this threat and return our citizens to their homes safely.” Israel's military campaign has killed more than 2,400 people in Lebanon since last October, according to the country's Health Ministry. And more than 1.2 million have been displaced. “So we are in the Moshav Betzet, in the western Galilee, next to the border with Lebanon.” Despite orders to evacuate within an active combat zone, some Israelis have decided to return home anyway. “In June we were hit by a Hezbollah missile. It was a 107-millimeter rocket. Idan Ishach-Erez and his children returned after spending nine months displaced. “Sometimes you can hear the missiles going over your head.” “When it is one of [Hezbollah’s]There is an alert that rings on the phone. I feel uncomfortable. Then I wait in the place, a little longer, and then I leave.” “There is an alarm. It's on Rosh Hanikra. Come on. It's on Rosh Hanikra right now. You can also get closer.” In the middle of our conversation, another rocket alarm sends Idan and his daughter running for cover. “It's a little further away. “It's not right here.” This time they are safe. But those who still live here say they continue to live in fear as the fighting continues with no ceasefire in sight.
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