Hamas has called for the lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza and the reopening of its seaport before a truce can be met. Israel, meanwhile, wants Hamas to dismantle its arsenal of weapons.

“I have empathy for the people of Gaza,” Rosset said. “But the responsibility lies with their rulers, and I don’t believe Hamas has built one factory since they took over in 2007.”

Missile barrages have become a way of life for Israeli children who live along the border with Gaza. Esther Marcus, 49, lives in Kibbutz Alumim, which has been part of a closed military zone in the past weeks and lies just inland from the Eshkol region. Her book “Code Red” has been helping children deal with the rocket and mortar fire.

A social worker and drama teacher, she has been forced to put her own fears aside while she works with traumatized children. Last week a rocket landed 100 yards from her. “I was driving the car,” she said. “There was an alarm. I had to stop and hit the floor.”

Marcus said Hamas tunnels present a new fear for the children she sees. “The kids are now having dreams of monsters coming out of tunnels,” she said.

Debbie Massel, a social worker at Eshkol Regional Council, said it would be her dream to see children from Gaza and Israel come together. “As a social worker, as a human being, what’s happening in Gaza is heartbreaking,” she said. “I think it’s a tragedy for both of our nations. We could be two nations that could flourish together, and to see that amount of destruction is terrible.”

In Nirim, Heffetz said she believed a diplomatic rather than a military solution was required. The kibbutz has planned to protest for Thursday. It wants Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Cabinet to acknowledge that the communities in the region are living under continued rocket and mortar fire, with the added dimension of cross-border tunnels.

“I have expectations from my prime minister to take care of my future and my children’s future,” Heffetz said. “It’s not Hamas’ responsibility.”