'We're living in an impossible environment'
Gaza vicinity community of Netiv Ha'asara suffers another terrorist infiltration attempt amidst rocket barrages. 'We won't be able to hold on much longer,' says local council head
"We were very lucky that this attack was foiled before it really began," Netiv Ha'asara resident Gil Ta'aseh told Ynet on Tuesday, recounting the long night his community experienced.
Late Monday night, three terrorists tried to infiltrate the western Negev community using an improvised ladder in order to cross the border fence. Local residents were awakened by sounds of gunshots, and quickly realized an infiltration attempt was in progress.
Luckily, IDF forces were able to stop the infiltration, killing the terrorists.
Netiv Ha'asara is one of the Gaza vicinity communities, causing it to be almost under daily barrage of mortar shells.
"The IDF worked fast, tackling this attempt before it manifested," added Ta'aseh, who is the community's security director. "Unfortunately it only enhanced the impossible environment we live in, with never-ending mortar shells raining down on us."
"The Home Front Command equipped the community with electronic devices meant to deter infiltrators, but more has to be done in order to put a stop to it," he added.
Two weeks ago, the community suffered a heavier barrage than usual at the hand of the Islamic Jihad's al-Quds Brigades. One of the shells caused massive damaged to a house, whose residents were left miraculously unharmed.
'We've had enough'
"People here have had enough… everybody think we got use to the Qassams and the mortar shells and nothing is being done," Pnina Rogolsky, head of Netiv Ha'asara's council, told Ynet.
"We have a high-quality community here. Nobody really wants to leave, but someone has to take a good, long, hard look at what's going on here. We won't be able to keep holding on for much longer."
The ongoing attacks, she added, are beginning to eat away at the community's finances as well: Rent prices are plummeting and real estate sales are virtually a thing of the past.
"We're starting to pay a financial price, because we pay for much of the damage ourselves with no reimbursement," she said.
"Everyone says there's a military operation on the way… but sometimes it feels like until there is bloodshed – real bloodshed – no one is going to give a damn."
