PHOTOS: Hundreds gather to protest dire conditions of south Tel Aviv

Hundreds demonstrated in central Tel Aviv against the dire living conditions for the residents, refugees and foreign workers who live in south Tel Aviv.

Photos and text: Oren Ziv / Activestills.org

A woman holds up a photo of a refugee daycare center's yearbook during a protest against living conditions in south Tel Aviv, April 19, 2015. Five refugee children have recently died due to the substandard living conditions in daycare centers. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
A woman holds up a photo of a refugee daycare center’s yearbook during a protest against living conditions in south Tel Aviv, April 19, 2015. Five refugee children have recently died due to the substandard living conditions in daycare centers. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Approximately 300 Israelis, asylum seekers and foreign workers protested Sunday evening at Habima Square in central Tel Aviv against the living conditions in south Tel Aviv, which have led to the death of five refugee children in makeshift daycare centers over the past few months.

“We will not be silent as children die. Children deserve a life of dignity,” Shula Keshet, an activist from south Tel Aviv and one of the organizers of the rally, told the crowd. “The conditions in the ghetto of south Tel Aviv are killing all of us, especially children. We saw the horrible conditions of Jews in the ghettos of Europe. I see life here on Rothschild Boulevard, and I say we must bring down the walls between Rothschild and south Tel Aviv, while people are dying there.”

The daycare center – also known as “babysitters” in the community – are often run in private homes, in unsanitary conditions, with few, untrained staff members, poor food and no proper equipment.

Protesters wave signs during a demonstration against the poor living conditions in south Tel Aviv, April 19, 2015. Sign: 'Stop letting our children die." (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Protesters wave signs during a demonstration against the poor living conditions in south Tel Aviv, April 19, 2015. Sign: ‘Stop letting our children die.” (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Protesters wave signs during a demonstration against the poor living conditions in south Tel Aviv, April 19, 2015. Sign (right): "There is no life in the ghetto of south Tel Aviv." (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Protesters wave signs during a demonstration against the poor living conditions in south Tel Aviv, April 19, 2015. Sign (right): “There is no life in the ghetto of south Tel Aviv.” (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

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