By Joseph Korson
When Hamas launches a barrage of missiles towards Israel they succeed in their goals even before the missiles land.
I am an Israeli citizen and I live here with my wife and children. I have a mother that lives in Tel Aviv and many friends all over the country. I am typical of millions of Israelis who are trying to build a better future for themselves and those close to them. Like most people around the world politics are not our first priority nor does it dominate out day to day lives. We live our lives doing what everyone does and may engage in politics in our spare time.
As soon as Hamas launches a barrage of missiles all of that normal living comes crashing to a halt and that’s when the terror starts.
After the initial disbelief and confusion of hearing the shrill sound of air raid sirens, fear rises up and triggers some basic survival instincts. It’s a weird and unsettling feeling to know that in the sky at that moment is flying a missile armed with an explosive head and you have no way of knowing where it’s going to land. Stop for a moment and gaze into the sky and imagine that scenario. Any second that missile can land where you are standing or in a place where a loved one is! What if you are in an area that you don’t know? You understand that you must find shelter immediately but don’t know where the nearest bomb shelter is. You have seconds to act and the paralysis of indecision is a harrowing feeling. You can stay where you are and find something to hide behind or you can frantically run until you find other people running to bomb shelters. In the mean time precious seconds are passing and your level of anxiety and adrenalin are rising! People around you are shouting and crying. The screams of fear from the children chill your bones! You find your cover and are sharing it with mothers, children, police officers and soldiers and you are all helpless. You look around and everyone with you has the same look in their eyes! I hope we survive this! Times slows down and things quiet down until the moment you hear the impact. Near or far the tearing boom rips through your soul and a glimpse of horror creeps in! Everyone one reacts. A shout of surprise, a scream of utter fear and then the hysterical tears! You wait until the impacts stop. You comfort those around you and wait for the all clear siren. Everyone tentatively leaves there place of cover and surveys the scene around them sizing up signs of danger.
Once you have established that you and those around you are safe you press call on your mobile phone to check on everyone else that is close to you. The phone rings and with every ring unanswered you mind starts to think worst case scenario. It’s even worse when you get a busy signal and that happens allot when everyone else is calling at the same time. The relief you feel when your loved one picks up may be a moment but it is felt deeply. Imagine if your worst fears are realized!
After you have confirmed all is ok with those you love you try to go back to normal life but it becomes harder that day because you know at any moment it could happen again!
This scenario is what happens every time a missile is launched against Israel. Some Israelis have been living with this reality for years. Millions of Israelis should not have to live with that terror, that uncertainty. Most people in the west rarely have to feel these type of feelings and I pray they never do.
Follow News from JerusalemShare this page with your friends