Every summer, drones drown out the moments of our daily lives. Some of these are family moments, and others are intimate. Before each summer, we wait for the next round of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The rounds of violence form a ritual, like the cycles of the seasons. The violence starts in the summer and fades in early September, after which still continues in the background. In the summer, the attacks are relentless, and their psychological effect is difficult to measure. In addition to causing physical destruction, the attacks on the Gaza Strip also influence culture and society on both sides of the conflict. The distance from the target makes the hand on the trigger less hesitant and more methodical. Lack of familiarity with the people on the other side of the wall creates distance and coldness, making it easier for politicians to incite crowds and recruit combatants on both sides. The destruction is not just physical, but also abstract and difficult to measure. The emotional, cultural, and personal destruction is amorphous. The attacks pierce through to people’s language and daily behavior, which then creates a habitual cycle that carries over to the next summer of violence. In my images, daily life and family moments are covered with drone attacks, which serve as a metaphor for how violence penetrates our daily lives. The smoke covers rationality and common sense, prevents us from seeing the world clearly, and pushes us towards making erroneous decisions.
