Israel and Iran have been bombarding each other with attacks for days. Dutch people on the spot share their experiences. “The people are the only victim,” says Mohammad* from Iran. “Here, and in Israel.”
When Mohammad (42) returns to his hotel in the north of Tehran in the night from Thursday to Friday, he hears a loud bang. “What kind of fireworks is that?” He still thinks. “The post-effect is so long.” Then the girlfriend he has dropped at home just before. “We are being attacked.”
During the conversation with NU.nl, Mohammad wants to switch to video calling because there are attacks. But the internet does not allow that. He now remains calm under the rumbling, but after the first attack he stood in shock in front of his window for another hour, he says. “We are not used to this kind of scenes in the Netherlands.”
On Monday, the day that the Iranian state television was hit, Mohammad stood on a mountain with others. They were called through the media an hour before to leave their neighborhood. “We saw the smoke,” he says. The attack took place during a live broadcast, as can be seen in the video below.
Iranian State Journal is abruptly interrupted by explosion
“The city is destroyed by two parties for which we have no respect.” In this way he describes the feeling of the Iranians in Tehran. People have been suffering from the regime and international sanctions for years. “And then this will be added.”
Most stores are closed in the north of Tehran. Many people fled to the north of the country. “Towards the Caspian Sea.” There are few military bases, making it appear safer. The streets in the city are empty, but at the gas stations there are rows of 4 to 5 kilometers long, says Mohammad. “In the afternoon the gasoline is finished.”
Mohammad came to the Netherlands as a child and is back in Iran for the first time. He has been traveling through the country for a few months. His children aged seven and nine ask him when he returns to the Netherlands. But he feels that after all his good experiences he can’t just leave. “I can’t say today:” I have a Dutch passport, bye, isn’t it? “
‘Especially anger that our government caused this situation for us’
Shirin* (29) sits next to Mohammad while NU.nl speaks to him by telephone. She is the girlfriend he brought home on Friday night. “As a young Iranian, I actually feel anger, because our government has caused this situation for us.”
Shirin works for a private doctor with a practice in a high building. The employees were afraid of Israeli attacks and many patients are out of the city. That is why the practice is now temporarily closed.
On the street, her fear, sadness and chaos stand out. “There is no crisis management.” According to Mohammad, there is already a lack of food in the north, where people flee. “There are so many intelligent people in this country, but nobody is in the right place. Everything revolves around connections.”
‘You are always working on the attacks’
The Dutch Joanne Nihom lives in the north of Israel, near the border with Lebanon. Since October 7, 2023, there have been shelling back and forth between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. “I have never been afraid, but now I am now and then,” says Nihom. “It’s bigger.”
All Israelis receive a report in an Iranian attack. Only then does it become clear what the attack is aimed at. “So you are always working on it.” The schools are closed and most people work at home. It is recommended to stay close to an air -raid shelter.
Nihom can go outside in a public shelter, but she would rather go to a good friend of hers. “Because otherwise you keep running,” she says. “Last night I believe it happened four times.” The bombing mainly take place at night. Monday during the day it was quiet. “Then I just worked.” During the conversation with NU.nl on Tuesday she is in her own house. A pling sounds: the alarm. Nihom hangs quickly. Moments later she calls back from her friend’s house: “That’s how it goes.”
‘The most frightening days of my life’
“The last few days are among the most frightening of my life,” says the Dutchman Tal Kehati (24). He lives with his cat Jester in an apartment in Tel Aviv.
During the first night of the war, two ballistic rockets came close to his house. The entire building trembled through the impact. “Dust swirled out of the ceiling and a fierce pressure wave followed,” Kehati recalls. “The bang was so all -wasting that it seemed as if the air was being torn from my lungs. My ears were struggling hours later.”
Kehati can hide in a semi -open parking garage, six floors lower. “It feels far from safe, but it’s all we have.” Kehati is now almost continuously in the hotel where he works. His cat is staying with his grandparents.
Kehati is stranded in the hotel and is also safer himself. During the day he tries to sleep for an hour or two. At night during bombing, he sits in the hiding room with guests and calms people who need it. A sip of water, breathing exercises. What helps, differs per person, he says. “Most of the time it helps to talk about other things.” Kehati likes to help other people. “Then I have less trouble with the fear,” he says. “In the days that I was home alone, I was only busy when the next bombing would come.”
Kehati emphasizes that he does not see Iranians as an enemy. “They are people, just like us. Victims of decisions that they have no influence on. The enmity is political, not personal. If ordinary people we have more similarities than differences.”
Israel and Iran Have Been Attacking Each Other for Days. Dutch People on the ground share their experiences. “The people are the only victims,” Says Mohammad* from Iran. “Here, and in Israel.”
When Mohammad (42) Returns to his hotel in the North of Tehran on the Night of Thursday to Friday, Heers a Loud Bang. “What child of fireworks is that?” “The after-effect is so long.” Then the Girlfriend he just dropped off at home calls. “We are being attacked.”
Duration the conversation with nu.nl, Mohammad hens to switch to video calling because there are attacks. But the internet does not allow that. He remains calm under the rumble, but after the first attack he stood in shock in front of his window for an hour, he says. “We are not used to these childs of scenes in the Netherlands.”
On Monday, the day the Iranian State Television was hit, Mohammad Stood with Others on a Mountain. They had Been Called Upon An Hour Earlier via The Media To Leave Their Neighborhood. “We saw the smoke,” he says. The Attack Took Place Duration A Live Broadcast, As Can Be Seen In The Video Below.
Iranian State Journal is abruptly interrupted by explosion
“The City is being destroyed by two parties that we have no respect for.” That is how he describes the feeling of the Iranians in Tehran. People Have Been Suffering for Years Under The Regime and International Sanctions. “And then this is added.”
Most shops are closed in the North of Tehran. Many people have fled to the north of the country. “Towards the Caspian Sea.” There are few military bases there, which makes it seem Safer. The Streets in the City Are Empty, But at the Gas Stations There Are Rows or 4 to 5 kilometers Long, Says Mohammad. “Gone is in the afternoon The Gasoline.”
Mohammad Came To The Netherlands As a Child and is back in Iran for the First Time. He has been traveling through the country for a few months. His children, seven and nine, ask him when he will return to the Netherlands. But he feels that after all his good experiences he cannot just leave. “I can’t say today:” I have a Dutch Passport, Bye “.”
‘Especial Anger That Our Government has caused this situation for us’
Shirin* (29) is sitting next to mohammad while nu.nl speaks to him by telephone. She is the girlfriend he brought home on Friday night. “As a Young Iranian, Instead of Fear, I Actually Feel Anger, Because Our Government has caused this situation for us.”
Shirin Works for a Private Doctor with a practice in a High Building. The Employees Were Afraid of Israeli Attacks and Many Patients Have Left the City. That is why the practice is now temporarily closed.
On the street, she notices the fear, the sadness and the chaos. “There is no crisis management.” Accordance to Mohammad, there is Already a Shortage of Food in the North, Where People Are Fleeing. “There are so many intelligent people in this country, but no one is in the right place. Everything revolves around connections.”
‘You Are Constantly Busy With The Attacks’
The Dutch Joanne Nihom Lives in the North of Israel, near the border with Lebanon. Since October 7, 2023, there have leg reciprocal shootings between Hezbollah and the Israeli Army. “I have never leg afraid, but now i am occasionally,” Says nihom. “It’s bigger.”
In The Event of An Iranian Attack, All Israelis Receive A Notification. Then it Becomes clear what the attack is aimed at. “So you are constantly busy with it.” The Schools Are Closed and Most People Work at Home. It is Recommended To Stay Near A Bomb Shelter.
Nihom can go to a public bomb shelter outside, but she prefers to go to a good friend of hers. “Because otherwise you keep running,” She says. “Tonight it happened I think four times.” The Bombardments Mainly Take Place at Night. Monday. “Then I just sat working.” Duration the conversation with nu.nl on Tuesday, She is in Her Own House. There is a pling: the alarm. Nihom Hangs Up Quickly. A little later she calls back from her friend’s house: “That’s how it goes.”
‘The Scariest Days of My Life’
“The Few Days Have Been Among The Scariest of My Life,” Says the Dutchman Tal Kehati (24). He lives with his cat jester in an apartment in Tel Aviv.
Duration the First Night of the War, Two Ballistic Missiles Landed Near His House. The Impact Shook The Entire Building. “Dust fluttered from the ceiling and there was a Violent Pressure Wave,” Kehati Recalls. “The Bang was so all-consuming that it seemed as if the air was being torn from my lungs. My ears were Still Buzzing Hours later.”
Kehati can take shelter in a semi-open parking garage, Six Floors Down. “It feels far from safe there, but it’s all we have.” Kehati is now almost continuously in the hotel where he works. His Cat Stays with his Grandparents.
In The Hotel, Kehati Assists Stranded Travelers and is also Safer himself. Duration the day he tries to Sleep an Hour or Two. At night duration bombardments he sits with guests in the shelter and calms people who need it. A sip or water, breathing exercises. What Helps Differs per person, he says. “Most of the time it Helps to Talk About Other Things.” Kehati Likes to Help Other People. “Then I Suffer Less From The Fear Myself,” He says. “In the days when I was home alone, I was only concerned with when the next bombardment would come.”
Kehati Emphasizes that does not see Iranians as Enemies. “They are people, just like us. Victims of Decisions they have no influence on. The animosity is political, not personal. As ordinary people we have more similarities than differentences.”