Gaza militants could hardly wait for today's 5-hour "humanitarian truce" to end.
Right now, promptly at 2:59 pm, they started firing rockets again toward southern Israel.
I took advantage of the tenuous quiet to leave the house (and its reassuring bomb shelter) and walk over to the supermarket, as my food stock was running low after ten days of conflict.
But I knew that the Red Alert siren could blare any minute.
I planned my walking route according to the protection available along the way.
In the parts where there are no houses, I constantly looked around and decided where I would find shelter within the one and a half minutes between siren and explosion.
Maybe I'd crawl into this culvert in the wadi, under the street?
Ah, but if I got hurt no one would ever find me down there . . .
Maybe I could lie prone, hands over my head (as we are instructed), alongside this solid rock by the olive tree?
If a rocket hits the ground, the shrapnel shoots upward in an arch; so the lower you are to the ground, the less chance of getting hurt.
How about lying under this bench?
Despite its holes, it would maybe catch the bigger falling debris.
Did you know?
When an Iron Dome missile intercepts a Gaza rocket high in the sky, they break up into many pieces, large and small.
These sharp, jagged fragments of hot metal rain down for up to ten minutes.
They can and do injure people and animals, damage buildings and vehicles and agriculture, and start fires in the city or in the fields.
In case you have never seen how Iron Dome chases the rockets, watch two dramatic videos from today.
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(And for latest news of the conflict, follow the liveblog at Times of Israel. Switch on "auto-refresh.)
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(Linking to SkyWatch Friday.)
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oh Dina, i'm so sorry that you are going through this terrible situation. i pray that it will end very soon. shalom. Fran
ReplyDeleteClosing in on three hundred dead civilians in Gaza now.
ReplyDeleteI saw some examples o the Evening News the other night. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteDuck and cover for sure.
Stefan, should I apologize to you that we are not dying even after the 1,230 missiles Gaza has fired on Israel this week?
ReplyDeleteNo other army takes so many measures to prevent civilian casualties. Have you heard of the IDF policy of dropping warning leaflets, roof knocking, and aborting missions when civilians are sighted? It is Hamas that tells its people to ignore these warnings.
About half of those killed are terrorists, combatants. It is sad that many of the others were used as human shields by their government.
Stefan, and the death toll is not as you (or your media) claim; it is slightly over 200.
ReplyDeleteNow and then I think what I would do in a situation like yours: being ready to take cover, look for nearby shelters, but it is really hard to imagine this for me and for many others here.
ReplyDeleteShalom Dina. Trying to imagine how this really feels to be living in the danger zone and having to be constantly vigilant. Amazing so many people just don't get it. The Israelis are very patient about trying to educate people on the real facts but so many seem to have deaf ears. So sorry this conflict is continuing on and on. I feel bad for all the people on both sides who just want to live their lives in peace.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to imagine this kind of living. No rockets around here... I'm really impressed by the iron dome-system, and the effort your government lays in protecting their citizens. And I feal really sorry for the Palestinians, whose leaders seems to use in a hopeless war. From the outside, far away, this conflict seems so simple to stop: If only Hamas could stop the rocket launching, the IDF wouldn't attack. The people of Gaza could have lived good and peaceful lives. If they only had better leaders, who cared about them.
ReplyDeleteWell, I hope this conflict soon will be ended, and that you find cover when needed!
"Make peace not war" is what the politicians several places should go for.... The situation is not good in several countries ..... There have been too many wars after the BIG war.
ReplyDeleteThe ground war just began, late tonight.
ReplyDeleteI only hope it ends quickly.
ReplyDeleteTo live with this threat daily, for me, is unimaginable. I can only admire your inner strength and hope that you stay safe.
ReplyDeleteMay peace be within your walls and security within your citadels. (Psalm 122:7) Praying real hard for the end of this war and for your safety Dina.
ReplyDeleteHamas keeps firing rockets from schoolyards and hospitals, so it goes on.
ReplyDeleteHolding you in our hearts <3
ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= <3
What a terrible situation you find yourself in Keep safe.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry Dina! One side doesn't want peace because all it knows is fighting and causing mayhem, even to its own people. You cannot rationalize with fanatic nuts.
ReplyDeleteDid not realse you were in the middle of that lot. Think there are too many missiles flying around at the moment. Keep well
ReplyDeleteShalom Dina. I see even searching for shelter didn't stop your daily photo shoot! Thank you for your insights and for sharing with your many followers. Wishing you safety and quiet again. - Mary A
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of you and hoping you stay safe! I can only imagine how awful it must be to live with this constant danger. Praying for you guys.
ReplyDeleteYou managed to get a great sky shot. I certainly don't envy the situation you and your country are in. I pray for your country often.
ReplyDeleteStay safe Dina.
ReplyDeleteThis is all so scary, Dina. Might this not be a good time to visit the kids? I hate thinking of you in such danger.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking of you as I see the news. I can't even imagine worrying about where to take cover on the way to the grocery store.
ReplyDelete