New Delhi: Amid the relentless missile alerts and air strikes in the ongoing conflict with Iran, Israelis are finding unconventional ways to cope with the chaos of daily life disrupted by frequent shelter runs.
In a striking blend of resilience and innovation, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has spotlighted digital tools designed to foster human connections even in the most unlikely places – bomb shelters.
The standout initiative is a “bomb shelter dating” feature linked to the location-based speed-dating app Hooked. Originally created for social events by American immigrant Noa Barazani and co-founder Roi Revach, the app now doubles as an icebreaker during air-raid sirens. Organisers place QR codes at shelter entrances; singles scan them to instantly see who else in the same bunker is single and open to chatting, turning tense waiting periods into potential conversation starters.
The ministry promoted the concept on social media, stating it shows how “even under fire, love goes on” and highlighting creativity in tough times to keep hope alive.
Other quirky apps addressing everyday challenges include a “bomb shelter tracker” that logs how often people dash to shelters and measures sleep disruption from repeated alerts, and a “shower risk predictor” that analyses siren patterns to suggest safer windows for showers or quick tasks without sudden interruptions.
The idea caught the eye of US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, who posted humourously, X: “Someday they will tell their kids, ‘We met on a dating app in a shelter while dodging ballistic missiles.’”
Reactions online have been mixed — some praise the ingenuity and human spirit, while others call it inappropriate or trivialising amid serious conflict. Critics argue such promotions distract from the gravity of war.
As Israel’s military continues strikes on Iranian targets, these apps reflect the “startup nation” ethos: adapting technology to turn survival into something more bearable, one scan at a time.