Israeli tanks move from the Gaza Strip to Gaza last month (Shutterstock)

The newspaper "Haaretz" published a report by writer "Shlomit Tzur" in which she said that a number of Israelis had bought their "dream homes", but they are now in ruins or abandoned, after they lost them or their value deteriorated due to the Al-Aqsa Flood operation launched by the Palestinian resistance, led by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, on settlements. Gaza cover last October 7.

The writer said that the devastation and shock caused by the flood were accompanied by financial pressures suffered by survivors who own homes in the Gaza Strip.

The author explained that many of these people bought their homes with mortgage loans and have been living away from them for months, not knowing whether they will be able to return to them or not.

The author adds that although the banks have canceled some mortgage installments, most of them - according to the author's expectations - will resume deducting these installments even though the return of the settlers to their homes is not on the horizon.

Map of the settlements evacuated by the Israeli army around Gaza (Al Jazeera)

Mortgage

The writer reported that mortgage holders believe that just as the government provided a grant that enables evacuees to live in hotels or rented apartments, it should order banks to be lenient in paying home installments.

The writer quoted an Israeli woman as saying, “Two years ago, I fulfilled a dream and finished building the house I dreamed of in Kibbutz Kfar Azza

.

We obtained a mortgage and bought the dream house.”

But the writer indicated - in her report - that this Israeli now lives with her family in Tel Aviv, following the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, and yet she has to pay mortgage payments on a monthly basis, at a time when she is facing difficulty in working.

This Israeli woman wonders, “Even if I wanted to sell the house, who would buy it now?”

No buyer

The author explained that tens of thousands of evacuees are living in the same situation, as they have not received any instructions regarding when they can return to their homes.

"Even if they decide to move, they cannot put their house up for sale. Right now, they cannot rebuild their lives elsewhere," she said.

The writer says, “There is no doubt that the value of homes has decreased significantly,” and quotes the head of the Real Estate Appraisers Association, Nehama Bogin, as saying, “From a purely appraisal standpoint, the war has led to a decrease in the value of homes, and there is supposed to be compensation from the government because of this decrease.” "But that's not going to happen in the foreseeable future, so I suppose it would be right to grant mortgage relief for a longer period."

The writer quotes another settler as saying, “We have no idea if we will be able to return...it seems that time is far away,” adding, “If we cannot return to the house, it will have no value. Who will want to buy it?”

Source: Israeli press