Iranian strikes expose bomb shelter shortage for Palestinian towns inside Israel

Missile Strike in Tamra Exposes Longstanding Inequality in Civil Defense

TAMRA, ISRAEL — June 16, 2025
A deadly missile strike in the quiet northern Israeli town of Tamra has left four civilians dead and sparked renewed anger over civil defense disparities.

The late-night attack came Saturday when an Iranian missile hit a residential building around 11:50 p.m., according to Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency service. Among the dead were Manar Khatib, a local teacher; her daughters Shatha, 13, and Hala, 20; and a relative, Manar Diab.

Manar’s husband, Raja, and their youngest daughter, Razan, survived. Emergency responders say Razan was sleeping in a room used as a makeshift shelter.

Tamra, a town of 37,000 Palestinian citizens of Israel, has never suffered a direct hit like this. Though rockets from Lebanon have occasionally landed nearby over the past 20 months, Tamra remained untouched until now.

Residents awoke to chaos. Bulldozers cleared debris. Burned vehicles lined the streets. Shattered glass covered the ground. The Khatib family's three-story home was destroyed.

"When we heard the strike, everyone rushed to help," said emergency volunteer Mohammad Diab. "We found body parts in the street—sights we didn’t want to see."

Diab said rescuers struggled to reach the victims. The building’s collapse left heavy rubble, complicating efforts to find survivors.

Most homes on the block had windows blown out. Neighbors gathered to console one another, many still in shock.

“This was terrifying,” said 25-year-old neighbor Mohammad Shama. “We knew things with Iran were escalating, but we never imagined the danger would reach us.”

He believes Razan survived only because her family used one room as a shelter. But not all homes in Tamra have that option.

Tamra’s Mayor, Musa Abu Rumi, confirmed that only 40% of residents have access to a safe room or shelter. There are no public shelters in the town, a stark contrast to Jewish towns, where shelters are standard.

“The government has never financed shelters in our town. They have other priorities,” Abu Rumi said. Following the attack, he opened schools as temporary shelters.

The mayor plans to press visiting government officials for change. He hopes the tragedy will push the state to address what he called “the gap between Jewish Israelis and Palestinian citizens.”

A report from the Israel Democracy Institute highlighted that “Arab communities remain unaddressed” nearly two years into the war. It noted significant gaps in protection.

Israeli law requires bomb shelters in homes built since the 1990s. These shelters give residents a place to hide when sirens warn of incoming rockets. But that protection is often missing in Arab towns.

“Many Palestinian towns lack public shelters and safe areas,” the Association for Civil Rights in Israel said. They described the disparities as a pressing security concern.

Residents say this neglect has deep roots.

“In your own country, you’re treated as a stranger. Even in death,” said Tamra resident Nejmi Hijazi.

Social media has only deepened the wounds. A video from nearby Mitzpe Aviv showed Jewish Israelis cheering as Tamra was hit. Some shouted, “May your village burn!”

Knesset member Dr. Ahmad Tibi called the video “a result of a culture of racism.” Another member, Naama Lazimi, condemned it as “shameful.” She also criticized the lack of shelters, calling it “a state policy of abandonment.”

Meanwhile, videos also surfaced showing Palestinians in East Jerusalem celebrating Iran’s strike on Tel Aviv. One man was arrested. National security minister Itamar Ben Gvir supported the arrest, saying, “Anyone who celebrates with the enemy will be punished.”

Back in Tamra, grief and fear linger.

“Last night was one of the hardest nights of my life,” said neighbor Manal Hijazi. “I’ll never forget the image of that little girl under the rubble.”

The Khatib family was beloved. Manar had taught many of the town’s children, including neighbor Raghda’s.

Raghda’s home was also damaged. “I was in bed with my daughters when the window exploded,” she said. “Dust and debris hit us. My 4-month-old was in my arms.”

Raghda said her daughters didn’t speak for hours after the blast. “There’s no way I’ll sleep at home tonight,” she said, trembling.

The people of Tamra are left to mourn their neighbors and wonder if help will ever come.

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