26 days of Iran war: In Israel, a good night's sleep becomes rarest luxury

As the Iran war drags into its fourth week, the toll extends beyond destruction – into restless nights and frayed minds. In Israel, millions endure a quieter crisis, where the simple comfort of uninterrupted sleep has become a distant luxury.

In Short

• Middle East war involving US, Israel and Iran enters 26th day
• Israelis face constant sirens disrupting sleep and daily routines
• Families leave their homes and seek refuge in public shelters

It has been 26 days since the war involving the US, Israel and Iran began. While gold prices in the international market have fallen sharply during this conflict, in Israel, “gold” remains scarce and precious. But this isn’t about the yellow metal. It’s about something far more basic – a good night’s sleep.

For the past 26 days, Israel has barely had any.

The routine of rushing to bunkers at any hour of the night, triggered by blaring mobile alerts and piercing sirens, has shattered sleep cycles. Yet, this scramble for safety is both expected and mandated by the government.

It has been nearly 72 hours since I arrived in Israel to cover the conflict. Not a single night has passed without alarms going off, forcing us to retreat to bunkers two or three times. While TV journalists are trained to function on minimal sleep in war zones, Israel has revealed a harsher reality.

In a country that has lived with conflict for decades, life can change in an instant. Sirens blare, vehicles halt mid-road and pedestrians rush to shelters. Moments later, as alerts lift, life resumes as if nothing happened.

This rhythm is ingrained, almost like muscle memory. But as the conflict nears four weeks, the strain is beginning to show. Some speak of it jokingly, others with quiet frustration: the fighting must stop. If not for peace, then at least for sleep.

Whether it’s midnight or midday, inside crowded shelters, strangers exchange a familiar look that asks a silent question, “For how long?” No one has an answer.

Yaktrina, a young receptionist at my hotel, says candidly, “My concentration is suffering due to lack of sleep, and it shows on my face.” Her words echo across conversations with residents, fellow guests and strangers alike.

In Tel Aviv, many families have left their homes and moved into public shelters with their children. In places like Habima Square, people have set up makeshift tents inside basement shelters. Small communities have formed underground, complete with toys for children and shared routines for survival.

Inside one such shelter, I met Omar, a software developer who completed his mandatory military service. He has built an app to help people cope with anxiety and compulsive habits like nail-biting and hair-pulling. His app, Solo-Uno, has already seen thousands of downloads in Israel and is now set for a global launch.

Every war extracts a price, and it is often ordinary people who pay the most.

Sometimes through loss of loved ones. Sometimes through the loss of homes. And sometimes, in quieter ways – like sleepless nights that stretch endlessly on.

Across West Asia, from Israel to Iran, millions are now living this reality.

A war without rest.

- Ends