Tamra, a tight-knit town near Haifa in northern Israel, has become the center of a tragic incident that has exposed critical deficiencies in public safety measures for its residents. One recent night, an Iranian-derived missile struck a residential apartment building in the town. This tragic attack killed four civilians, including a beloved local teacher known as “Auntie Jess” and her two daughters. This troubling incident points to a deeper truth. Only 40% of Tamra’s 37,000 residents have access to safe rooms or operable bomb shelters.
The missile attack occurred at approximately 11:50 PM, targeting the home of the Khatib family. The community was reeling from the assault. Panic overcame emergency crews as they scrambled through the rubble of the three-story building to locate survivors. The attack resulted in casualties and highlighted the significant gaps in protection between Arab and Jewish communities within Israel.
Casualties and Community Response
The attack on Tamra not only caused the immediate loss of life, but the displacement of thousands. Manar Khatib, a local educator, her daughters Shatha (13) and Hala (20), along with their relative Manar Diab, were killed instantly when the missile struck their home. Only one of the family’s youngest daughters survived the flames—she slept in a home shelter room, which had fire-resistant walls.
Nearby structures did not escape destruction either, as almost every house in the area had their windows broken. Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos of that night. Nejmi Hijazi, a Tamra resident whose mother’s home was demolished, called it one of the worst nights of his life.
“Last night was one of the most difficult nights I have ever experienced. I can’t forget the image of the little girl I saw trapped under the rubble,” – Manal Hijazi.
Another neighbor, Mohammad Shama, noted the escalating tension prior to the attack, stating, “As soon as the escalations began with Iran, we knew the situation would be dangerous, but we didn’t think the danger would come this close to us.” The attack sent residents into a tailspin and questioning their overall safety.
Lack of Shelters and Government Responsibility
Yet the devastating missile strike has shone a light on a critical issue. Like other Palestinian towns in northern Israel, Tamra did not have enough bomb shelters to protect residents. This urgency was echoed by mayor Musa Abu Rumi, who expressed his anger at the urgent matter. He called for greater government support for shelter construction to meet needs in Tamra.
“The government has never financed the construction of shelters in our town, because they have other priorities,” – Musa Abu Rumi.
Israeli law requires all newly constructed homes and buildings, that have been developed since the early-1990s, to have bomb shelters. Yet, most homes in Tamra lack the basic infrastructure to be protected from these floods, putting residents in harm’s way. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel emphasizes a shocking difference in defense allocations. Arab towns, despite being identical in function and form, are given $4,200—36 percent less support than their Jewish counterparts.
The need to increase preventative measures is further underscored by increasingly volatile political landscape in the region. Local leaders maintain that this state of affairs results both from and is maintained by a culture of neglect in the Israeli state toward Arab communities.
The Aftermath and Broader Implications
During the strike’s aftermath, residents were quick to rally together to help those impacted. Filled with emotion, Mohammad Diab recalled how residents in the neighborhood immediately began running towards the site of the explosion to help. As soon as we heard the strike, everybody in the village came to shoot at them and help kill them. It was an extremely emotional and tumultuous night. We discovered severed heads, arms, and legs strewn on the road,” he described.
The violent incident has once again cast a serious pall of public safety on the city. It has ignited critical conversations around the systemic inequities experienced by Arab communities within Israel. Commentators have pointed out that these disparities show our nation’s systemic racism and neglect. Dr. Ahmad Tibi reflected on this cultural background, stressing that these attacks are rooted in deeper societal problems.
“This is a result of the culture of racism that has spread in Israeli society and the escalating fascism,” – Dr. Ahmad Tibi.
