Some free-standing bomb shelters in Israel are located adjacent to bus stops in areas close to borders where groups on the other side have launched rockets and missiles at Israel. Many are located in the Gaza Envelope, the area adjacent to Gaza. Some are located at the northern end of Israel near the borders with Lebanon and Syria. All but one of the shelters shown here are located in the Gaza Envelope. The artwork on the outside of these shelters captured my attention on a trip to Israel in December 2025. This book is the result.

A few shelters have the number “318” spray painted on them. This is a biblical reference Genesis 14:11-16; “The four kings seized Sodom and Gomorrah … When Abram heard that his kin had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit … Abram divided his men to attack them and he brought back his nephew Lot”.

Some of the stickers seen on some of the shelters have images of Israeli soldiers killed in the war in Gaza. One has a poster commemorating the death of a family on October 7, 2023 when they were attacked in Israel.

It would obviously be better if there was no need for bomb shelters. I hope you can enjoy the artwork on these shelters even though their existence is linked to war, death and destruction.