Life in Israel during the war

Life in Israel at the moment moves between tension and routine. Sirens interrupt the day; people pause, look around, and head to shelter if needed – and then, quite remarkably, carry on. Cafés remain open, people walk their dogs, sit and talk, and daily life continues. There is a quiet resilience in the way ordinary routines are adjusted rather than abandoned. 

What stands out most is the contrast. In between alerts, there are still moments of normal life: conversations continuing, people shopping, music playing, friends meeting. It’s not that people are unaware of the danger, it’s that they have learned to live alongside it. That contrast between anxiety and endurance is what I have tried to capture in these images. 

On a personal level, being back in Israel feels especially meaningful. I was recently stuck in Manchester and only just managed to return, so photographing these moments now carries added weight. Moving between Netanya and Tel Aviv, I see how people support one another, adapt quickly, and carry on with quiet determination. 

• South African oleh Harold Silber is a Netanya-based street and documentary photographer.