Underworld ( العالم السفلي )
Fear, insecurity, anxiety, and concern are emotions I experience whenever I’m at home and hear the distant sound of gunfire, the source of which remains unknown. Sometimes, the shots are fired into the sky, other times toward a neighbor’s house down the street, and occasionally, it seems to echo from beneath the supermarket just below my building. The list of unsettling incidents is long and seemingly endless. After hearing gunfire, we immediately searched the house to identify the source and ensure everyone was indoors. Only once we confirm that everyone is safe within our secured space do we cease the storm of anxiety and attempt to resume our day as if nothing happened.
Violence has become a central issue for Palestinian citizens, intensifying day by day. This year marks a record for crime and violence within Arab society, exacerbated by inadequate state presence. In this context, the “Underground World” project emerged in my village, Jaljulia, known as a hotspot for danger. Many residents fear leaving their homes in Jaljulia and neighboring Arab villages. Investigations have shown that our environment lacks protection, disrupting daily life with a constant threat. The project aims to establish secure infrastructure within our vulnerable surroundings.
This initiative develops an underground network connecting key points in the village to facilitate safe movement. It also creates subterranean public spaces, overcoming current limitations. By focusing on community pathways, the “Underground World” project enhances safety, transforming hazardous routes into secure passages through innovative methods such as tunnels. These strategies, inspired by defense measures during emergencies, directly address our current environment.
My aspiration for this project is to illuminate an apparently unsolvable issue. Through the creation of this extreme reality, I hope to capture the attention of authorities and security forces, urging them to recognize the urgency of providing comprehensive security and safe access for all citizens.
