Last night Hamas launched hundreds of rockets on Tel Aviv. One of them landed on a car 600 meters from my house, and the entire building shook from the impact. The same rocket barrage hit the building next door to my friend’s house and seriously damaged his apartment (shattered glass, torn concrete, debris everywhere). Thankfully he wasn’t there at the time.

Today was weird. I took care of my neighbours’ cats after they were stuck abroad and unable to return to the country because their flight back was cancelled and there weren’t any other flights. The streets were deserted and the city eerily quiet except for ambulance sirens and helicopters bringing in the wounded from the south to hospitals in the centre, and moving commanders from place to place. Shops and restaurants were closed, there were no buses as most of the drivers were recruited by the army to move soldiers around. You can feel war in the air, with the few people around glued to the news on their phones or messaging their friends and families.

I went with a friend to the local shopping mall, Dizengoff Centre, so that he could donate blood. The stores were all closed but the place was packed with hundreds of people waiting patiently in line (a tough challenge for Israelis) for over four hours to donate blood. We left because there wasn’t a chance that he could donate today, and we’ll try again later this week. On the way back we saw a large group of volunteers collecting food and supplies to send south to the soldiers and the families in the area who are largely under siege. We stopped at the local supermarket with dozens of people standing patiently in line, all buying supplies to send south through the volunteers outside. We bought 8 loaves of bread and added them to the growing pile of food, diapers, baby food, toiletries, phone chargers, toys, etc.

The news throughout the day grew worse and worse. 700 dead. Thousands wounded. Over 100 kidnapped, including grandmas and grandpas, young children, whole families. The rave victims were butchered, as were people from kibbutz Nir Oz. Terrorist burnt down their houses while they were inside to force them out and shoot or kidnap them. The sights and stories are horrific. 

There was supposed to be an Inktober post today. There won’t be one. I can’t bring myself to draw right now. Go hug your loved ones while they’re there.