SDEROT, Israel — On Aug. 13, the last day of the cease-fire — which was subsequently extended by five days — it's hard not to notice the neglected appearance of Sderot. Three wars between Israel and Hamas within five years have exhausted this city, which has the misfortune to be located in close proximity to Gaza’s bloody neighborhood. Now it’s the afternoon. In less than eight hours the time set for the end of the cease-fire will arrive, the second in less than a week. Residents here live with the feeling that they can’t expect much of life, there’s nothing to expect from peace and nothing to expect from the future. Fourteen years of rocket strikes and thousands of “color red” alarms have bred very hard feelings that range from despair to utter despair. 

A few hours before the expiration of the cease-fire, it seems that the busy traffic of the morning hours has calmed down. The roads leading to Sderot and to neighboring communities have emptied, as if residents have rushed to get away from the area. In the three days of the latest cease-fire there has been a sense that life is returning to its usual course. Now, toward the evening, as the clock advances toward midnight, the tension is building up. The city and its surroundings enter a state of readiness for rocket attacks. 

Since the war that began a month ago hasn’t yet ended, no one dares taking down the hundreds and thousands of signs hailing the courage of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. “Mighty at home, victorious in the front!” — referring to the Hebrew name of Operation Protective Edge, “Mighty Cliff” — is written on one sign where a large Star of David floats above the words. “We all salute IDF soldiers with love,” is written on another sign. In general, in Sderot they don’t like to take down signs. Posters of the mayoral candidates from the elections of October 2013 can still be seen everywhere. Almost a year has passed, most of the candidates have been defeated, but the smile of victory on their faces still adorns the city. In Sderot’s industrial zone, posters of candidates of the elections that took place six years ago are still up. 

In the emptying commercial center of Sderot, toward the zero hour, Hemy ben Zikri is putting the finishing touches on the new falafel stand he’s about to open. Until recently, toast and hotdogs were sold here, but customers have now changed their taste.