Just hours after the US announced that it had attacked three nuclear sites in Iran, effectively joining , digital alerts sounded in Israel, followed by air raid sirens warning of incoming missiles.
In a large underground car park in central Tel Aviv, many people had slept there overnight in small tents pitched on the fourth underground floor. Others made their way to the shelter from the neighborhood.
“I think we all waited for to help us. I thought it would take more time, but here they are actually helping us now,” said Gabi, 32, who declined to give her last name. “I feel safe here. I don’t feel anxious, and we can’t hear much down here.”
However, he admitted that the conflict had now moved in an unknown direction. “You can see on people’s faces that they are worried. But I hope this will bring about change for the people of Iran too.”
Dakar Levi has also been sleeping in a small tent provided by Brothers in Arms, an organization that has set up the space as a shelter.
She feels that this conflict is much more destructive than previous ones with the militant group in or the Lebanese group in southern Lebanon. Some missiles have evaded Israel’s defence shield and hit residential areas, leaving a trail of destruction.
“I think it was supposed to happen a long time ago, but I think our defence wasn’t good enough to fight all those missiles. Now we have the defence, and this has to end. They have said for a long time that they want to destroy the Jewish state.”
Levi hopes that the US joining Israel in attacking Iran might shorten the conflict. If not, she is prepared to stay for weeks to come.
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