Haifa mayor decries empty streets, 'unprecedented' economic losses
4 Min Read
Following Hezbollah's strikes on Haifa, the mayor has confirmed that the city is facing an economic crisis, one that will have broader repercussions for all of "Israel".
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Impact of Hezbollah's strikes on Krayot, Haifa, on November 11, 2024 (Social media)
The Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, confirmed on Tuesday that the city has suffered an unprecedented economic blow, stating, "Everything has come to a standstill; the streets are empty, and the shops are closed."
In statements to the Israeli military, Yahav warned that if Haifa's economy is undermined, it will impact all of "Israel", stressing that "Israel will only be strong if the North is strong."
For over a month, Hezbollah has been shelling Haifa in northern occupied Palestine from Lebanon. On Monday, Israeli media described the situation as "madness in Haifa Bay" following Hezbollah's launching of around 100 rockets that targeted the Krayot and Haifa areas.
A few days ago, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that over 80% of small business owners in the eastern al-Jalil and the Golan Heights have experienced a decline in income since the war began, with half of them facing reductions of more than 65%.
"Israel" has also suffered significant losses in the north, particularly as Hezbollah expanded its operations to include Haifa and as these operations became regular. This escalation has had a severe impact on industry, agriculture, trade, and tourism in the area.
The Israeli aggression on Lebanon has resulted in a heavy financial burden, with the authorities forced to pay significant compensation to companies operating in northern occupied Palestine for the losses they have suffered.
Data indicate that between October 2023 and August 2024, compensation was paid to companies totaling 4.4 billion shekels (more than one billion US dollars) for indirect damages, knowing that this figure does not include compensation for direct damages to businesses in buildings that were directly hit by missiles and drones, which means that the number of companies that will close is likely to increase.
This comes as Israeli Channel 12 revealed that unemployment in the North after the war has risen 20% higher than in other regions.
Read next: Why 'Israel's' ultimate defeat will come from economic isolation
The economic situation in the north is deteriorating as Hezbollah continues to strike Haifa, breaking a record of launching over 100 rockets toward Krayot on Monday.
Israeli outlets noted that this marked Hezbollah's heaviest missile barrage on Krayot since the beginning of the ongoing war. The Israeli occupation forces acknowledged that the rockets were launched from border areas, which it claimed to have recently cleared.
Israeli occupation forces confirmed that around 90 rockets were fired toward the north within 40 minutes from locations they said Hezbollah forces had previously occupied.
Following the attacks, Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav told Channel 12 that the number of rockets fired at Haifa was among the highest since Hezbollah began targeting northern Israeli settlements on October 8, 2024.
On that note, the Israel Hayom newspaper reported on September 23 that Hezbollah's rocket and missile attack directly impacted the occupied city of Haifa, rendering its streets completely void of Israeli settlers.
The newspaper cited a settler as saying that no warnings were given in Haifa ahead of the Lebanese Resistance's attacks. As a result, the Rambam Hospital transferred all of its activities to a car garage. Meanwhile, the occupation authorities in Haifa announced the halt of classes.
With this, Hezbollah is delivering on its promise of turning "Haifa into Kiryat Shmona and Metulla."
#WATCH | Islamic Resistance in #Lebanon Military Media releases video captioned "We will turn Haifa into Kiryat Shmona and Metulla." pic.twitter.com/MZbSoL4V4B
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 15, 2024
