ICEJ Bomb Shelters in Israel Closing Security Gap for Israel’s North

ICEJ Bomb Shelters in Israel Closing Security Gap for Israel’s North

By: Nativia Samuelson, ICEJ AID Administrator

As the war in Gaza triggered by Hamas on October 7 unfolded, a second front quickly ignited in Israel’s north as Hezbollah joined the fray in support of its fellow Iranian-backed terror militia. Just as quickly, the ICEJ began supporting urgent aid relief projects on both fronts. 

With escalating rocket fire and clashes along the Lebanese border, more than 60,000 Israeli residents in 43 communities along the northern border were ordered to evacuate. Families rushed to pack their lives into suitcases and boxes and drive off. Schools shut down overnight. Small villages that were once lively suddenly became ghost towns. 

Eighteen months later, only one in four evacuees has returned. The rest are still displaced, living in hotels or temporary housing options, waiting for a sign that it will be safe to go home. 

Throughout 2024, the ICEJ began laying the groundwork for their return to the north, starting with civil preparedness. By strategically placing bomb shelters in these northern communities, we have provided immediate safety and long-term reassurance. The ICEJ installed 30 protective shelters last year alone, including 14 compact cube shelters, eight large shelters, and eight renovations of existing ones across vulnerable communities. Each is strategically positioned just meters from schools, clinics, playgrounds, and homes where split-second access to shelters saves lives. 

Each shelter is placed in close coordination with local civilian security officials, focusing on communities where residents have limited time, often just 15 seconds or less, to find safety during an alert. In many towns near the border, sirens signal the need to seek shelter almost immediately. 

“This is about providing safety and peace of mind,” said Nicole Yoder, ICEJ’s Vice President for AID and Aliyah. “We’re not only protecting lives, but we’re also helping people remain in or return to their communities. 

“We have witnessed how every bomb shelter we have placed or renovated, and every delivery of aid, is a sign that someone sees them and is helping to prepare them to return, even if the future is still uncertain.” 

One of the clearest indicators of this need comes from parents, who often share that access to shelters in schools is a top priority when considering the return home. In response, ICEJ has focused on installing shelters in schools and child therapy centers in both the north and south. 

In a recent placement in the Merom HaGalil regional council area in the north, the ICEJ installed a shelter at an elementary school. When the delivery team arrived, they were shocked to learn that this would be the only shelter available where hundreds of children are dropped off and picked up from school every day. 

“We should install at least another three to four shelters here!” said the delivery driver in disbelief at the security gap these children face. 

This underscores how pressing the need for more bomb shelters is to improve civil preparedness in the border region. A second shelter was placed in a nearby field school known for its unique curriculum centered on nature, the environment, wildlife, and conservation. 

While government efforts to rebuild and return are underway, the timeline could be long. The Home Front Command estimates that it will take two years to secure the 300 schools near the border. The ICEJ shelters are bridging that gap, allowing kindergartens and schools to reopen, thus enabling residents to resume daily life. These shelters also give displaced families a clear sign of progress. 

The ICEJ plans to continue its work in the north throughout 2025, assisting frontline communities to strengthen their preparedness and create the conditions necessary for a safe return. Your support can help put the next bomb shelter in place and bring safety and peace of mind to more families, schools, and frontline communities. 