42 Street Bakery in Tel Aviv only existed on paper before Hamas struck three weeks ago and carried out a horrific terrorist attack in Israel. Eric Ponomariov’s kitchen is now in full swing. The bakery, which had long been his daydream, has now become a voluntary project that he started together with his friend Natalie Kastel. Would have liked to contribute in Gaza, if possible. And every day they make several hundred sandwiches. They go to various groups that need food: survivors of the terror, other volunteers, but also Israeli soldiers. – Many have stopped working after the terror, and I thought that all our talent can contribute to creating something beautiful, says Kastel to news. She and her friends want to help their countrymen after Israel has been through the biggest attack in recent times. In Israel, many feel an existential fear in the face of Hamas, and therefore support the military. At the same time, most people know that the war against Hamas also leads to humanitarian distress in the Gaza Strip. – If I could have contributed in Gaza, I would have done so. I think everyone here would do that. But I really can’t. Natalie Kastel and other volunteers have started a bakery to ensure food for those who need it in the Tal Aviv area. Photo: Vegard Tjørhom / news – Food, not weapons Many volunteer centers have sprung up around Israel. Many have felt a need to fill their days with meaning and contribute in various ways. There are also collections to support those who have had to evacuate or lose their homes. Eric Ponomariov runs a catering business and had made a lot of sandwiches that he was going to deliver to a metal festival. It was canceled and he had way too many sandwiches. Then they realized that they could use the food to help those affected by the terror. Natalie Kastel (in the middle) makes sandwiches for those who need it, both survivors, other volunteers and Israeli soldiers. Photo: Vegard Tjørhom / news – When you wake up to a situation like this, you just know that you have to do something. And if what I can do is of help to my people, then that’s fantastic. We provide food, not weapons, says Kastel. On the day news is visiting, among other things, the sandwiches will be transported to a therapy center for survivors of the terrorist attack. Does not support Netanyahu The situation in the Gaza Strip is now desperate, says head of foreign affairs Arne Næss-Holm in the Church’s Aid to news. Among other things, the residents there do not have access to fuel. This means that, among other things, bakeries are not allowed to produce food, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has said. – My heart bleeds for them, just as my heart bleeds for my own people. But unfortunately, due to politics, there is not much I can do for them. There is no humanitarian cooperation, unfortunately, says Kastel. While Natalie Kastel makes sandwiches for volunteers and soldiers in Israel, her heart bleeds for Palestinians, she says. Photo: Vegard Tjørhom / news She says that she does not support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the way he leads Israel. – I do not agree with the Netanyahu regime. But that’s the regime I have. Moral dilemma Kastel says that she does not distinguish between Israelis and Palestinians who do not belong to Hamas. At the same time, she is one of many Israelis who are aware that Hamas must be stopped, and that one must not forget that Hamas wants to eradicate her country. Hamas has attacked Israel with both rockets and ground forces. The picture shows a damaged building in Sderot in the south of Israel after a rocket attack from Gaza. Photo: AMIR COHEN / Reuters Hamas not only aims to fight against the occupation of Palestinian territories, but also has a stated goal that the state of Israel should cease to exist. – I woke up to the news on Sunday, and I thought that maybe people will now understand the complexity and the moral dilemma of creating security for Palestinians, at the same time that they have a regime that aims to wipe us out, says Kastel, who says that she often feels misunderstood in conversation with people who are not from Israel. Støre: – The line is far exceeded On Friday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that they are expanding the operation with ground forces. The aim is to defeat Hamas once and for all, say military and political leadership in Israel. Throughout the weekend there have been fierce battles between the IDF and Hamas soldiers inside the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap), said that he believes Israel is violating international law. What Israel is doing in Gaza now is against the rules of war. This is what Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says. – They have the right to self-defence, and I recognize that defending oneself against warfare from such a densely populated area as Gaza is very demanding. There are still rockets coming from Gaza towards Israel, that condemns me, Støre said, and underlined: – International law says that it must be proportionate, and civilians must be taken into consideration. That line has now been far surpassed. In Israel, the view of the war is quite different. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it is out of the question to agree to a ceasefire, because it would mean surrendering to Hamas, terror and barbarism.
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