(Haipo) – Several dozen people demonstrated this evening, October 15, 2026, in front of the entrance gate to the Haifa refineries, in protest of a significant leak of carcinogenic substances that occurred during maintenance work at facilities that were hit by missiles during the war. The demonstrators demanded the closure of the polluting industry in Haifa Bay.
Leakage of carcinogenic substances during maintenance work
The demonstration was held following a serious incident that occurred in early October, when during maintenance and repair work on facilities damaged by missile strikes during the war, a significant leak of volatile substances occurred, including benzene – a substance known to be carcinogenic. As a result of the leak, residents of the area were ordered to stay indoors, and schools in Kiryat Ata were even evacuated. The incident exacerbated residents’ concerns about the health hazards posed by the continued operation of the refineries in the heart of a densely populated residential area.
Protest demanding the closure of the polluting industry in the Gulf
The protesters carried signs designed to remind the Israeli government of its promise to close the polluting industry in Haifa Bay in general, and the oil refineries in particular. Among the signs raised at the scene were inscriptions such as “Security threat, cancer for sure – closing the refinery today” and “Israel demands – evacuation, no repairs.” The protesters expressed their anger that despite promises to close the polluting plants, the refineries continue to operate and even carry out maintenance work that leads to serious pollution incidents that endanger the health of the region’s residents.
What a joke