Sheltering on both sides

Sheltering on both sides

Advertisement

Some 260,000 of the Gaza Strip's 1.8 million people have taken refuge in schools and other institutions run by the United Nations in the face of nearly four weeks of Israeli bombardment. Many are staying put for now, waiting to see if a 72-hour ceasefire that began on August 5 holds.

Meanwhile in southern Israeli areas that have been hit by daily rocket and mortar bomb attacks from the Gaza Strip, many residents also remained in their shelters.

. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Ashkelon, in southern Israel, has been a frequent target of rocket attacks from Gaza.

By law new apartments must be equipped with reinforced “safe rooms,” but those who don’t have access to such facilities can seek refuge in public shelters like the one pictured above.

Reuters photographer Amir Cohen captured pictures of Israelis in such shelters, living in makeshift conditions and sleeping on the floor.

. GAZA CITY, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Meanwhile in Gaza many families have sought protection in schools and other institutions.

Reuters photographer Mohammed Salem documented just some of the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have sought refuge, as they lead a tense existence in these rough and ready shelters, where they are also left sleeping on the ground.

1 / 22

Slideshow

A girl looks out of a classroom window at a U.N.-run school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Jabaliya refugee camp.
. JABALIYA, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A girl looks out of a classroom window at a U.N.-run school sheltering displaced Palestinians in Jabaliya refugee camp.

Children who fled their houses during the Israeli offensive play at another U.N.-run school in Gaza City.
. GAZA CITY, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/MOHAMMED SALEM

Children who fled their houses during the Israeli offensive play at another U.N.-run school in Gaza City.

A Palestinian boy bathes his brother.
. JABALIYA, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Palestinian boy bathes his brother.

Palestinians who fled their homes sleep on the floor in a U.N.-run school.
. GAZA CITY, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Palestinians who fled their homes sleep on the floor in a U.N.-run school.

A young child lies on the ground inside a classroom in Jabaliya.
. JABALIYA, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A young child lies on the ground inside a classroom in Jabaliya.

A Palestinian woman sits inside a U.N. school.
. JABALIYA, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Palestinian woman sits inside a U.N. school.

A Palestinian woman prepares food on the ground.
. GAZA CITY, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Palestinian woman prepares food on the ground.

Palestinian children, who fled their homes, eat breakfast at a U.N.-run school.
. JABALIYA, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Palestinian children, who fled their homes, eat breakfast at a U.N.-run school.

Palestinians stay inside a classroom.
. GAZA CITY, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Palestinians stay inside a classroom.

A Palestinian woman walks down the stairs inside a U.N.-run school.
. GAZA CITY, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Palestinian woman walks down the stairs inside a U.N.-run school.

A woman looks on as she stands outside her tent at a school.
. GAZA CITY, Palestinian territories. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A woman looks on as she stands outside her tent at a school.

Israeli children play outside a public bomb shelter in the southern city of Ashkelon.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Israeli children play outside a public bomb shelter in the southern city of Ashkelon.

Chairs stand next to a painted wall inside a public bomb shelter.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Chairs stand next to a painted wall inside a public bomb shelter.

Three Israeli youths play in a public shelter.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Three Israeli youths play in a public shelter.

An Israeli girl sweeps the floor of a shelter as another holds a child.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

An Israeli girl sweeps the floor of a shelter as another holds a child.

An Israeli toddler sits on the floor of a public bomb shelter.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

An Israeli toddler sits on the floor of a public bomb shelter.

A mattress lies next to framed pictures.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

A mattress lies next to framed pictures.

An Israeli man spreads hummus on a slice of bread.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

An Israeli man spreads hummus on a slice of bread.

An Israeli woman smokes inside a shelter.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

An Israeli woman smokes inside a shelter.

An organ and mattresses are seen in a public bomb shelter.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

An organ and mattresses are seen in a public bomb shelter.

Israelis sleeps on the floor.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Israelis sleeps on the floor.

An Israeli boy runs up the stairs in a public bomb shelter.
. ASHKELON, Israel. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

An Israeli boy runs up the stairs in a public bomb shelter.