Tetiana Kocheva fled her home in Ukraine’s northeastern city of Kharkiv after Russia invaded last year, taking refuge in Israel’s coastal town of Ashkelon, near Gaza, AFP reports.

Her husband had worked in Israel in the past, and she thought taking their three children there — away from Russian attacks — would guarantee living in peace.

Like several thousand other Ukrainian refugees, Kocheva fled war for a second time. “If I am killed then at least it’s on my native land,” the 39-year-old said.

When Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, Kocheva spent ten days hiding in a basement in Kharkiv, which almost fell to the Russian army.

Five months into the invasion, the family left for Israel. They began a new life in Ashkelon, some 10 kilometres from Gaza. During the surprise attack by Hamas fighters, she felt she needed to leave.

“My hands started to shake and I had the same feeling that I did when it all started in our country,” she said.

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