On 15 June 2025, missiles launched from Iran hit a residential building in Tamra, a town in northern Israel.
Four civilians tragically lost their lives in the attack, including local teacher Manar Khatib and her two daughters, Shatha and Hala. Manar Diab, a relative of the family, also lost her life in the strike, while Manar’s husband Raja and their youngest daughter Razan survived.
The incident left the close-knit community of Tamra in shock, as they had never experienced anything like it before. Tamra, a town predominantly inhabited by Palestinian citizens of Israel, had until then been relatively untouched by sporadic rocket attacks from neighbouring Lebanon, but hostilities had escalated with Iran.
The aftermath of the missile strike was evident in the debris-filled streets and damaged buildings. The lack of adequate bomb shelters in Tamra was exposed, highlighting the inequality faced by Palestinian communities in Israel.
Residents and volunteers came together to offer support and condolences to those affected by the tragedy. Emergency responders worked tirelessly to search for survivors trapped under the rubble of the destroyed building. Recognising the urgent need for shelter, the local municipality opened educational facilities for residents who felt unsafe in their homes.
The sombre mood in Tamra reflected the town’s profound sense of shock and disbelief following the attack, with many questioning the lack of preparedness and resources to protect its residents. As the community grappled with the aftermath of the violence, its people’s resilience and unity shone through in the face of adversity.
“The government has never funded the construction of shelters in our town as they have other priorities,” he stated. Following the attack, several government ministers have visited Tamra, with more planning to do so in the upcoming week, as Abu Rumi mentioned. He intends to use these visits to highlight the neglect of Tamra and work towards “bridging the gap between Jewish Israelis and Palestinian citizens of Israel”, CNN reports.
The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), an independent research centre, published a report after the attack in Tamra, illustrating the continued neglect of Arab communities nearly two years after the outbreak of war. The report highlighted significant disparities in protection between Arab and Jewish communities.
While civil defence capabilities have been integrated into Israel’s infrastructure and bomb shelters have been mandated by law in homes and buildings constructed since the early 1990s, many Palestinian towns in the north of the country lack such public shelters and protected areas, according to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
The organisation emphasised the urgency of addressing this issue in a statement, noting the primary disparity in defence within Arab towns in the northern district. Local resident Shama acknowledged the neglect in Tamra, attributing it to racism.
The recent attack in Tamra has exposed the ongoing conflict’s tragedies and exacerbated existing fault lines and divisions in Israeli society and governance. Videos captured on social media showed residents of a neighbouring town celebrating the rocket attacks on Tamra, highlighting the deep-seated racism that is prevalent in Israeli society, as pointed out by Knesset members Dr Ahmad Tibi and Naama Lazimi.
The lack of shelters in the area has further fuelled criticism of the government’s discriminatory policies. Faced with the looming threat of further attacks, residents of Tamra are anxious and uncertain about the future.
Manal Hijazi, a neighbour interviewed by CNN, recounted one of the most challenging nights she had ever experienced, vividly remembering the distressing sight of a little girl trapped under the rubble. Hijazi praised the Khatib family as being among the kindest and most caring in their neighbourhood, and highlighted Manar’s role as an educator in Tamra, where she had taught many residents, including Raghda — a neighbour whose home was also affected by the recent blast. Raghda recounted her harrowing experience of being in bed with her three daughters when the rocket hit, describing how the window shattered and covered them in dust and debris. She tearfully recounted her fear of shielding her infant daughter during the attack, while her other children remained silent in shock for hours. Raghda expressed her overwhelming sense of dread, stating that she would not be able to sleep at home that night. CNN’s Dana Karni contributed to this report. Sign up for a CNN.com account to stay updated with more CNN news and newsletters.
