“I’m not leaving” was my mantra for the first week of the Israel-Hamas war that broke out on October 7, 2023.
Ruthless Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists from the Gaza Strip were in southern Israel as Red Alert sirens sounded in the center. Our country was under a fierce attack. For some, the first instinct was to flee. Here’s why I chose to stay.
I want to preface this by saying I’m all for people (especially Olim) doing what they feel is best for them and their families—no judgment for those who left. The days following the “black Shabbat” were undoubtedly some of the worst I’ve ever experienced. Was I scared? Absolutely. Was I leaving? Not a chance.
For some context, I live in Tel Aviv adjacent to Dizengoff Street, an infamous hotspot for deadly terrorist attacks by Palestinian assailants. Our neighborhood received a warning that the same
terrorists responsible for the brutal slaughter of over 1,000 innocent civilians in the south were attempting to reach Tel Aviv. They never made it, but those hours and days of knowing true evil was present in our country, in our homeland, were terrifying.
As people around me started panic-booking the first flights out of Ben Gurion Airport, friends and family kept asking me if I would stay put. My answer was always yes. I felt like I owed it to this country to stay as if I couldn’t abandon Israel in her time of need. I felt guilty knowing I could leave if I wanted to. I’m an American citizen. I could have flown to Boston, NY, or LA, but I kept thinking about those who could not. I kept thinking about the victim’s families that were going through the worst pain imaginable, the orphaned children robbed of their parents, and the 240+ hostages that were forced back into Gaza.
Finally, I wanted to be here to witness this country coming together as I knew it would – and did. Israelis and immigrants alike jumped into action. Whether it was to collect food and clothes for displaced families, ensure our soldiers had everything they needed, or risk their safety to rescue the animals affected by the attack on the 7th. The collective efforts were (and still are) remarkable
Sarah Makhluf - Freelance Content Writer
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Sarah Makhluf moved from Boston, MA, to Israel in 2012. After attending an Israeli university, she worked as an elementary school teacher in Tel Aviv before pursuing writing. Freelance content writing started as a creative outlet and turned into a career. Sarah is the daughter of an Israeli father and an American mother. She is passionate about spreading awareness, education, and hope for Jewish people around the globe.
