Jewish family donates 12 bomb shelters to Arab communities in Israel’s north
Since war began in the north on Oct. 8, 2023, 34 Israeli civilians have been killed by rocket attacks, 19 from Arab sector
In a heartwarming move, a Jewish family has paid for 12 bomb shelters to be built across nine Arab towns in northern Israel.
The Hezbollah rocket attack on the town of Majdal Shams shocked the region. The Druze village, located near the Lebanese border, lost 12 children and young people who were playing on the soccer field that Saturday when the rocket hit. The incident highlighted the lack of safety shelters in some of Israel’s northern communities that need it most.
Since the war broke out between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization, following the Hamas Oct. 7 invasion and massacre last year, 34 Israeli civilians have been killed by rocket attacks in the north, 19 of whom were from the Arab community.
The father of one of the children killed in the attack complained, "There isn't any civil defense infrastructure in the town, and when I see the way the state's treating us, it makes me feel that our children's lives are worthless. No one cares about us,” he said. “We're still afraid to let our children play outdoors. The trauma remains very real."
While many point to discrimination as a reason for the lack of suitable shelter, citing the similar lack of shelter in southern Bedouin communities of the Negev, a Jewish family has expressed concern for Israeli Arab communities in a very tangible way – from its own pocket.
Israeli news outlet N12 reported, “The donors, a Jewish family who asked to remain anonymous, made the decision following a number of recent fatalities in Arab communities, due to Hezbollah rocket hits and a shortage of public protection in these areas.”
In an additional statement, the Government Press Office (GPO) said, “Terror doesn’t distinguish between religions. Neither do we.”
The family's gesture has received widespread praise, with thousands applauding the family’s generosity.
One Arab man commented on the post, "In a challenging time when we are all exposed to the threats that hover above us, this amazing gesture by the Jewish family moves me to the depths of my soul to see people who act with love without expecting a return or publicity, only out of genuine concern for the lives of others, it inspires and hopes for a better future for all of us, these shelters are not just physical protection but also a symbol of mutual guarantee that reminds us that we are all here together Jews and Arabs want security and a good life. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to this noble family. With your help, we will pray that we will continue to see more such connections that unite us and strengthen the hope for peace.”
A 2018 report published by the State Comptroller found that 26% of Israeli civilians had no adequate shelter, leading some Bedouin communities in the south to turn off alarm sirens altogether as there was nowhere to run to shelter.
This means that one-quarter of the Israeli population lacks access to any form of protection in the event of a siren alert, whether it's a safe room in their home, a shared bomb shelter with neighbors, or a public shelter on the street.
A Bedouin woman told NPR what happened to her family when Hamas terrorists fired hundreds of rockets last Oct. 7, saying, "My children were hiding under the table. They couldn't do anything because we don't have a shelter."
Following the fatalities due to the lack of adequate shelter, Israeli non-profit organizations like IsraAid sought to bring help to those communities.
IsraAid Spokesperson Schachar May said, "As always, we asked the community what are the needs they have, and the shelters were the first thing that came up."
"Shelters drive the economy," her colleague Asaf Bir added. "The second there's a shelter in a school, kids can go back to school and then their parents can go back to work."
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) has also worked rapidly to provide much-needed shelters in Israel’s north.
Highlighting the need, the ICEJ underscored the urgency by pointing to Hurfeish, a mixed Druze and Christian village, just 2.5 miles from the Lebanese border, that has faced repeated Hezbollah attacks, leaving residents with only seconds to find safety. To address this, it has previously provided shelters in the area and is now working to deliver six more.
Click here if you would like to help ICEJ in their drive to provide shelters for more Israelis in the line of fire.
Jo Elizabeth has a great interest in politics and cultural developments, studying Social Policy for her first degree and gaining a Masters in Jewish Philosophy from Haifa University, but she loves to write about the Bible and its primary subject, the God of Israel. As a writer, Jo spends her time between the UK and Jerusalem, Israel.
