Hey friends,
I thought I should share this with you.
After over 6 months that we don’t have any Maps activity here in my country, I miss taking part in reviewing and rating places on the map. I used to do so all the time and only now after this was shut down here in Israel I know exactly how big that part was in my life 
All our reviews in Israel have not been published since the war started and NOTHING is changing on the map.
It is hard to travel and hard to travel out of the country even if you can.
We lost good friends and family, and we also lost our hobby 
I find myself “scanning” the map back and forth for long periods, waiting for the day that we can return to take part in it. Even just for some “escapism” for people that love it.
I know I am not alone in this but I am not sure all you guys know and I just wanted to share this frustration with some understanding friends.
Man kann es sehr gut verstehen aber die Umstände leider auch
@Annaelisa
Thank you for the reply.
I wish the circumstances were different
Ik zou toch even de zaken in een juist perspectief willen zetten. Ik heb m’n info absoluut niet van sociale media, maar in de Gazastrook zijn er al meer dan 30.000 burgerslachtoffers gevallen, sterven de mensen bij bosjes van de honger, door bombardementen, … en velen van die slachtoffers zijn vrouwen en kinderen. Zelfs ziekenhuizen en hulporganisaties worden onder vuur genomen. Ik veroordeel geweld van iedere partij, dus ook het geweld tegen Israël. Ik zou het liefst zien dat alle oorlogen in de wereld zo spoedig mogelijk eindigen: is beter voor het miljeu, maakt de aarde een stuk leefbaarder en mooier, … Maar helaas is niet iedereen hiervan overtuigd. Ik probeer via maps of crowdsource een positieve bijdrage te leveren aan de wereld, dus ik snap best dat u uw hobby mist. Maar in Gaza maken mensen zich druk over hoe ze deze hel moeten overleven. En als ze dit overleven, wat moet er dan van hen worden? De Oslo-akkoorden en de inspanningen van Rabin zijn nu wel heel erg ver weg.
Hi @JoniG This situation is really sad. As a guiding star, I hope you start sharing again as soon as possible. In your travel plan, always remember that you have a friend and a home in Turkey. Stay with love.
I know exactly what is happening in my country and in Gaza… I lost some of my friends in the massacre at the 7th of October, I have got a few friends still kidnapped in Gaza after more than 170 days and my Mom’s house was evacuated… It is the worst situation that happened here ever and everyone is suffering. I don’t think that this is the place to talk about politics and this is why I wrote about the hobby I lost. I am not underestimating the pain in Gaza and in Israel. As someone who live here I believe I understand that better than most people you meet or talk to… I ask the same questions as you, what will be the future for all of the people here? For both sides. I know that many people are fed with information from social media and very few are stopping to actually learn or understand what is really happening here, who is actually fighting who and what is the history of the whole story. I see it and I worry about it a lot. I am not a fighter or a leader, I’m just a person living here and I don’t have any other options. I will never support wars or violence and I am a peaceful person. Please refrain from trying to teach me something I live on a daily basis.
@KattyGeltmeyer @JoniG @Gezendunyali
Ich verfolge diese ganzen Gräuel Taten von Beginn an.
Das einzige was ich aus der Ferne tun kann, ist die Hilfsorganisationen zu unterstützen.
Und das mache ich immer soweit es in meinen Möglichkeiten liegt, egal wo Hilfe benötigt wird, ob durch Katastrophen oder Kriege.
In diesem speziellen Fall einer Seite die Schuld zuzuweisen empfinde ich als nicht richtig, dafür sind zu viele mit ihren Interessen beteiligt.
Ich denke die Verantwortlichen wissen da am besten Bescheid.
Hello @JoniG
That’s a pity really !!! Nevertheless I believe it’s for your good and the better of Google maps users. Keep hopeful and smile. We hope for peace.
Hugs and love your way.
Cheers
Thank you @SholaIB
I understand the reason and yet it is still frustrating 
I wish for peace 
and pray for the hostages to return and the end of all wars 
Hi @JoniG I empathize with you all at this critical time most especially as people within the zone are deprived of basic needs including access to Google maps.
To continue engaging in maps contributions, you could attend the numerous online meet-ups organized by Local Guides to interact and share your mapping journey - one that comes to mind is the TRAC.
I am wondering if you could contribute to roads, edit your reviews and check facts then just wait until the ban is lifted on maps when all your points will be approved. Not a bad idea right?
Meanwhile, we are right here if you need to chat or discuss any of the Google Maps feature or topic you want to delve into especially accessibility. 
Stay safe and keep guiding.
Thanks @EmekaUlor
Not so many roads that need fixing here in my area after me and some friends here fixed everything we saw in the past few years. But I sure hope that all other reviews and contributions I made will update eventually 
Praying for peace.
Praying for the release of the hostages.
Praying for the resumption of the Local Guides program in Israel.
I’ve visited 3 times, and want to visit again soon.
Am Israel Chai