Growing Under Concrete

Sderot, Israel

The town of Sderot, located less than 10 miles from the Gaza Strip, has become a symbol of civilian life lived under the constant threat of conflict. Since October 2000, at the onset of the Second Intifada, Sderot has been subjected to near-daily missile attacks launched from Gaza. What began as sporadic rocket fire soon evolved into a persistent and deeply destabilizing reality for its residents.

The situation escalated significantly in 2006, following Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza in 2005, during which Israeli settlements and military presence were withdrawn from the territory. Soon after, Hamas—designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the U.S., and the EU—rose to power in Gaza, further intensifying the conflict. The volume and range of rocket attacks on southern Israel, particularly on Sderot, increased rapidly in the aftermath.

By this time, Qassam rockets were being launched frequently, forcing Sderot to restructure daily life around constant alerts. Public shelters, reinforced playgrounds, and bunkers became standard in every corner of the town. In Sderot, the reality is defined by the 15 seconds residents have to reach cover once the sirens sound.

A new generation has grown up under this pressure—children raised in a state of perpetual tension and trauma. Their world is one of reinforced walls and rehearsed runs to shelter, where anxiety becomes second nature and resilience is a quiet form of survival.

"Growing Under Concrete" is a photographic exploration of this unique and painful reality. Created between 2007 and 2009, the series documents how children in Sderot navigate life in a fortified city. It captures the contrast between youth and fear, play and preparedness, and the emotional cost of growing up where conflict is the background to every moment.

This body of work reflects on how physical and emotional landscapes are shaped by war, and how a generation learns to live, adapt, and grow beneath a ceiling of uncertainty.