Israeli Tourism Ministry shifts focus to evacuees
Israel’s Tourism Ministry took the lead in housing tens of thousands of people who fled their homes in the south and the north of the country following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
More than 100 days after the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 and ensuing tensions on the border with Lebanon, thousands of Israeli families find themselves living in hotels, away from their homes and communities. As security threats persist, returning home is not envisaged for the moment.
Residents in the north of Israel had time to prepare to leave, as escalation was gradual. That was not the case in the south, where kibbutzim were attacked by surprise. Many homes there were burned to the ground. People had to flee as soon as the Israeli military managed to enter.
Israel is considered an expensive tourist destination with many luxury hotels across the country. Caught off guard by the Oct. 7 attack, the government had to care for the tens of thousands of people who fled their homes in the south in a hurry. A few days later, when Hezbollah rocket fire intensified in the north, the Israeli military ordered several villages and towns there to also evacuate. The Ministry of Tourism, together with Israel’s hotel association, took the lead in finding lodging for the thousands who evacuated.
115,000 left their homes
