The city of Tel Aviv fell under a tense atmosphere on Saturday as its normally bustling streets turned silent, in anticipation of another round of missile strikes from Iran. These expected attacks come in response to heightened military offensives by Israel, targeting Iran. Late on Friday, Iran retaliated with a flurry of missile and drone assaults, most of which were successfully intercepted by Israel’s defense systems. Despite this, the strikes resulted in at least three fatalities and left dozens injured across the Tel Aviv region.
In the wake of these events, the city bore signs of the ongoing conflict. Many businesses, including shops and eateries, opted to shut their doors, although a few ice cream parlors dared to stay open. People could still be found in parks, meeting friends while staying close to public bomb shelters, and Tel Aviv’s beaches had fewer visitors than usual under the looming threat. Residents were glued to their smartphones, checking for updates on the intensifying situation with Iran, while still attempting to cling to some semblance of everyday life and enjoy the rare moment of sunshine.
“The uncertainty is overwhelming,” expressed Lindsay Schragen, an architect residing in Tel Aviv. For over 20 months, Israel has been embroiled in a conflict with Hamas in Gaza, warring with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and grappling with the Houthi rebels in Yemen, all groups linked to Iran. Israeli citizens have become accustomed to the government’s calls to seek safety in bomb shelters whenever alarms sound.
Typically, these danger periods last around ten minutes. However, clashes with Iran’s formidable military extend these shelter stays, forcing families to seek refuge for hours. Despite these challenges, many recognize the value of Israel’s early warning technology and the city’s extensive network of shelters. Schragen, who relocated from New Jersey to Israel eight years prior, shared the difficulty of explaining her daily experiences to concerned friends and family in the U.S. who struggle to grasp how she can oscillate between nights in bomb shelters and afternoons spent casually in the park.
“My mom is constantly calling, worried if I’m in a shelter, yet I’m actually outside,” Schragen remarked. “It’s astonishing how we maintain a slice of normality.”
Israel has invested in and developed an advanced air defense system over the years, designed to pinpoint incoming threats and respond only to those that pose risks to populated areas or vital infrastructure. Though not foolproof, Israeli authorities credit this system with averting significant harm and potential casualties. The Israeli offensive against Iran has been remarkably forceful, inflicting grave damage, with operations claiming the lives of several high-ranking generals, nine leading scientists, and individuals involved in Iran’s nuclear initiatives.
Reports from Iran’s U.N. representative mention that the Israeli assault resulted in 78 deaths and over 320 injured. Israel’s leadership argues that these preemptive measures were crucial to deter Iran from advancing toward nuclear weaponry. These aggressive actions have complicated diplomatic discussions between the United States and Iran concerning Tehran’s accelerating nuclear developments. In response to the Iranian attacks, hospitals across Israel initiated emergency protocols, relocating intensive-care patients into parking garages converted for such crises.
At Sheba Medical Center, located in Ramat Gan, a facility situated east of Tel Aviv, hundreds of patients, including premature infants, have been transferred to their underground accommodations in the past 48 hours. “I cannot bear the thought of my child growing up in such turmoil,” Eliran Bar, the father of a premature baby in intensive care, lamented. “We all wish for this to conclude swiftly.”
Saturday remained largely uneventful, but many prepared themselves for another night of missile threats. Shaun Katz, a 32-year-old lawyer from Tel Aviv, equipped himself with supplies like camping gear and games to pass the time if necessary. “The outlook is uncertain on how this will unravel, yet this might have been the strategy we needed to curb the Iranian threat,” Katz explained. “Ordinarily, de-escalation would be preferable, but I’m unsure if that’s an option now, and this might be our best shot at hindering their nuclear ambitions.”
Iran maintains that its nuclear efforts are geared towards peaceful ends, although the International Atomic Energy Agency reports that Iran’s uranium enrichment is approaching weapons-grade levels. Some Tel Aviv residents, whose homes were damaged in the violence, are worried about future developments.
“My wife is Israeli, and she’s extremely anxious, wanting to leave at the earliest opportunity,” shared Howard Alansteen, an American residing in Israel. “She’s considering crossing to Jordan, talking about taking a ferry to Cyprus, or heading to Eliat. She’s deeply distressed.”
Meanwhile, Zhenya Kuperman, a chef from Givatayim on Tel Aviv’s eastern outskirts, noted that many friends chose to stay indoors out of fear. Still, stepping outside and connecting with others provided her some relief. “In times of pressure, togetherness is what we truly need,” she said.