Since 7 October, Etgar Keret, one of Israel’s leading writers, has been trying to make sense of what's happening in Israel and Gaza by making regular short notes that capture his thoughts and feelings. Here, he shares his latest reflections

Now close your eyes and try to stop being angry. Try to stop raging at all those who deserve your righteous fury. Close your eyes and allow yourself, just for a moment, to simply feel the pain. To hesitate. To be confused. To feel sorrow. Remorse. You still have your whole life to spend persecuting, avenging, reckoning. But for now, just close your eyes and look inward, like a satellite hovering over a disaster zone, searching for signs of life. A lot has been taken away from you – but you’re still a human being. Wounded, bloodied, angry, hurting, frightened, drowning in sorrow, but still: human. Take a deep breath and try to remember the feeling. Because you know that a minute from now, when you open your eyes again, it’ll be gone.

By Etgar Keret

Photo by Lielle Sand

Etgar Keret is one of Israel’s foremost contemporary writers. His 2019 book, published in English as Fly Already, won Israel’s prestigious Sapir Prize in Literature and was shortlisted as one of the best books of 2019 by the Financial Times. He has also won numerous awards for his work as a screenwriter and director, including, together with his wife Shira Geffen, the Cannes Film Festival’s Camera d’Or Award 2007 for their film Jellyfish.

All Etgar’s writing since 7 October has been free to access at etgarkeret.substack.com