Israel: First came the alert message, then the boom of interceptions

As missiles illuminated the night sky above Israel, creating a tapestry of fear and awe, the sense of urgency was palpable. From the relative safety of a fortified room in Jerusalem, we experienced first-hand the surreal reality of a nation under fire. The sequence was almost ritualistic—first, an alert message would break the silence, a forewarning sent to mobile phones across the region, and then, moments later, the resounding boom of interceptions would follow. This auditory signature of conflict became the disturbing backdrop of our experience. In Jerusalem, a city steeped in millennia of history, the contrasts were stark. Here, ancient stones and sacred sites stand alongside the buzzing hubbub of modern life. But the sudden jolt into a state of alert peeled back these layers, revealing the vulnerability that lies beneath the surface. As rockets were intercepted in the sky above by Israel's Iron Dome defense system, the technology stood as both a marvel and a stark reminder of the constant threat looming over the region. Living under the shadow of such threats, the concept of a 'safe room'—a fortified area designed to provide protection against rocket attacks—has become a mundane aspect of life for many Israelis. Yet, to an outsider, the transition from routine activities to seeking refuge upon hearing the wail of the alarm is a jarring shift. The sudden scramble, the heart racing, the waiting for the boom - all of these elements underscore the unpredictability and stress of life amid ongoing conflict. Our time