Israel to Add 1,000 Bomb Shelters Amid Mounting Threats from Iran

Expanded Civil Defense Measures
Israel’s Defense Ministry and the Home Front Command have announced plans to install 1,000 new public bomb shelters across the country and renovate an additional 500 older ones, in a sweeping initiative aimed at improving civilian protection in the face of growing regional threats.

The move, recently approved by the government, will cost an estimated NIS 100 million and comes in direct response to the recent wave of Iranian missile and drone attacks that have devastated homes and public infrastructure.

Iranian Attacks Expose Civilian Vulnerability
The urgency of the project follows days of heavy bombardment that left 24 Israelis dead and over 800 wounded. The intensity of the Iranian attacks has spotlighted the country's glaring gaps in civil defense—particularly the lack of access to functioning bomb shelters for a significant portion of the population.

According to a report by BBC News, around 25% of Israelis currently do not have access to a bomb shelter. Furthermore, many existing shelters are either outdated or poorly maintained, raising serious concerns about their reliability during emergencies.

Shelter Inequality in Older Neighborhoods
A key issue is the disparity in housing safety standards. While homes constructed after 1993 are legally required to include a mamad (a reinforced safe room), older neighborhoods—especially in peripheral towns and low-income areas—often lack this critical protection.

In 2024, the Israeli Builders’ Association estimated that 57% of Israeli homes do not have a mamad, leaving millions vulnerable during aerial attacks. Public criticism and media coverage have intensified in recent weeks, demanding urgent government action to address these deficiencies.

A Broader Push for Preparedness
The new civil defense initiative is part of a broader effort by the Israeli government to prepare for future escalations, particularly from Iran and its regional proxies. The Defense Ministry has pledged to prioritize the installation of new shelters in high-risk areas and to ensure that the older facilities meet updated safety standards.

This large-scale investment marks a critical step in shoring up Israel’s domestic defense infrastructure and responding to public pressure for greater civilian protection. However, experts warn that long-term resilience will also require consistent maintenance, updated emergency protocols, and stronger support for communities most at risk.

Photo: AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg

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