"For a moment everything seems normal, then we're running from bombs": Israeli Jacob on life in Tel Aviv

Foto: Telegraf.rs/Milan S. Prelić

At first glance, life in Tel Aviv seems normal - people are jogging in the streets, relaxing on benches on the beach, playing volleyball. There are also groups of young people going to Halloween parties wearing costumes. However, when you talk to people, it is clear that they live in fear, but do not want to surrender.

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That normalcy is only an illusion, Jacob, who identifies himself as a British Israeli, told Telegraf.

"We live under tension, everything is unpredictable. We still cannot recover from the shock we experienced about four weeks ago. We cannot believe that a tragedy of this level has happened. But we are grateful to the army and we hope that the IDF will fulfill its mission and that finally defeat the terrorists of Hamas," he said.

Reacting to the comment that the streets of Tel Aviv seem normal until the sirens are heard, he says that nothing is normal.

"I ran to the shelter twice today because of the bombs, yesterday twice, the day before yesterday three times... In some moments it seems normal, but only half an hour ago rockets reached Tel Aviv. Everyone in the city is scared, many stores aren't open anymore... It's simply not the Tel Aviv we know and love," he said.

Although he has a British passport, Jacob did not even think about taking refuge in Britain during the conflict.

"I hope this ends quickly. Besides, while everyone has their own opinion, I think if I leave the country, that's exactly what Hamas basically wants - to scare us into leaving Israel. The best we can do is to live as normally as possible - to buy Israeli goods, go to Israeli restaurants... support the Israeli economy," said Jacob, who asked that, for security reasons, we only photograph him from behind.

Telegraf.rs reporters Andrija Ivanovic and Milan S. Prelic went to Israel on Tuesday, where for 25 days fierce fighting has been going on against Hamas terrorists, who launched a bloody attack on Israeli territory on October 7, killing and kidnapping civilians.

Our team, which went to Israel with colleagues from other newsrooms in the region, is currently stationed in Tel Aviv, and the hosts did everything to make sure they reach Israel safely.

(Telegraf.rs)