Palestinian Town in Israel Left Vulnerable After Iranian Missile Strike

In the town of Tamra, near Haifa in northern Israel, residents are in shock after an Iranian missile strike killed four civilians.

The attack took place late Saturday night, hitting a residential building and exposing the lack of bomb shelters in many Palestinian communities inside Israel.

The rocket hit the home of the Khatib family at around 11:50 p.m., according to Israel’s national emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA).

Manar Khatib, a local teacher, her daughters Shatha (13) and Hala (20), and their relative Manar Diab were all killed. Manar’s husband Raja and their youngest daughter Razan survived.

Neighbor Mohammad Shama described the night as “terrifying.” He and others rushed to help after hearing the blast.

The Khatib family’s youngest daughter survived because she was sleeping in the home’s only shelter room, Shama said.

Limited Shelter Access

Tamra’s mayor, Musa Abu Rumi, told CNN that only 40% of the town’s 37,000 residents have access to a shelter or safe room.

Unlike many Jewish towns in Israel, Tamra has no public bunkers.

“The government has never financed the construction of shelters in our town because they have other priorities,” Abu Rumi said.

In response, the municipality opened schools to serve as emergency shelters for those who don’t feel safe at home.

Inequality in Civil Defense

Israeli law requires bomb shelters in homes and buildings constructed since the early 1990s.

However, many Palestinian towns lack public shelters and protected spaces.

The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) published a report showing that Arab communities remain unprotected nearly two years into the war.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel also stated that Arab towns in the north have significant gaps in defense compared to Jewish towns.

Racism and Tensions

The attack has also sparked anger over racism and neglect.

Social media videos verified by CNN showed some Jewish Israelis in the nearby town of Mitzpe Aviv celebrating the strike, shouting, “may your village burn!”

Knesset member Dr. Ahmad Tibi called this “the result of the culture of racism that has spread in Israeli society.”

Another Knesset member, Naama Lazimi, condemned the video as “shame and disgust,” and criticized the lack of shelters as part of a “racist and abandoning” state policy.

Tamra resident Nejmi Hijazi said, “In your own country, you are treated as a stranger, even as an enemy, even in your blood and in your death.”

Many residents are still shaken.

Neighbor Manal Hijazi said, “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.”

Raghda, a former student of Manar Khatib, described how her own house was damaged. She was in bed with her three daughters when the rocket struck.

“The window blasted open and I got hit by dust and rocket remnants,” she told CNN. She cradled her 4-month-old daughter during the attack and said her daughters were too shocked to speak for hours.

“There is no way I will be sleeping at home tonight,” she added.

Elsewhere, social media videos showed Palestinians in East Jerusalem celebrating Iran’s attacks on Tel Aviv. One person was arrested, according to Jerusalem District Police. National security minister Itamar Ben Gvir warned that “anyone who celebrates with the enemy will be punished.”