Palestinian citizens denied access to missile shelters, exposing internal apartheid in Israel
DaysofPal – As sirens blared across Israel and missiles streaked through the night sky, most residents instinctively sought cover. But for many Palestinian citizens of Israel, the scramble for safety ended not at the door of a shelter but in front of it, turned away by neighbors and locked out by systems meant to protect them.
The recent wave of Iranian missile strikes has laid bare longstanding disparities that leave Palestinian citizens, roughly 21 percent of the population, especially vulnerable during times of crisis.
Turned away at the door
Samar al-Rashed, a 29-year-old single mother living near Acre, was one of many to experience this exclusion firsthand. When air raid sirens pierced the night, she grabbed her five-year-old daughter, Jihan, and rushed toward their building's bomb shelter.
'I didn't have time to pack anything,' she said. 'Just water, our phones, and my daughter's hand in mine.'
But at the shelter entrance, another resident heard her speaking Arabic and physically blocked their way.
'I was stunned,' she recalled. 'I speak Hebrew fluently. I tried to explain. But he looked at me with contempt and just said, 'Not for you.''
Terrified, Samar returned to her apartment and watched from the balcony as missiles lit up the sky. 'It felt like the end of the world,' she said. 'And still, even under attack, we're treated as a threat, not as people.'
A system built unequally
Though Palestinian citizens of Israel hold Israeli passports, their treatment often falls far short of full equality. Structural discrimination has left many communities underdeveloped, underfunded, and underprotected.
Reports have long highlighted severe disparities in infrastructure. A 2022 audit by the State Comptroller found that more than 70 percent of homes in Palestinian communities lacked a reinforced safe space, compared to just a quarter of homes in Jewish areas. Funding for civil defense in Arab towns and villages lags significantly behind that of their Jewish counterparts.
This isn't just a matter of neglected planning; it has deadly consequences.
In mixed cities, such as Lydd (Lod), where Jewish and Palestinian citizens live side by side, shelter access remains unequal. Yara Srour, a 22-year-old nursing student from the neglected al-Mahatta neighborhood, recounted trying to find safety for her family during one of the heaviest nights of bombardment.
'We went to the new part of Lydd, where there are proper shelters,' she said. 'But they wouldn't let us in. Jews from poorer areas were also turned away. It was only for the 'new residents,' mostly middle-class Jewish families.'
Yara's mother, who suffers from chronic knee pain, struggled to walk. 'We were begging, knocking on doors,' she said. 'People just looked through the peephole. No one helped. Meanwhile, the sky was burning.'
No protection, no recourse
In Haifa, 33-year-old mobile phone technician Mohammed Dabdoob shared a similar experience. After closing his shop amid missile alerts, he rushed to a nearby shelter, only to find it locked.
'I tried the code. It didn't work. I banged on the door and called in Hebrew. No one opened,' he said.
Seconds later, a missile landed nearby, shattering windows and sending glass flying.
'There was smoke and screaming. It felt like a nightmare, like the Beirut port explosion,' he said, describing how he hid behind a parked car until the danger passed.
When the shelter door eventually opened and people emerged, Mohammed stood silently, watching.
'There's no real safety for us,' he said. 'Not from the missiles, and not from the people who are supposed to be our neighbors.'
Citizenship in name only
The state's failure to ensure equal protection during wartime reflects a broader pattern of marginalization. Palestinian citizens are often treated with suspicion, policed more harshly during periods of unrest, and sometimes even criminalized for online posts or political expression.
'The state expects our loyalty in war,' said Mohammed. 'But when it's time to protect us, we're invisible.'
After witnessing the violence and being denied access to shelter, Samar moved with her daughter to her parents' home in the Galilee village of Daburiyya, where a reinforced room offered some degree of safety. But she is now considering fleeing to Jordan.
'I wanted to protect Jihan. She doesn't know this world yet,' she said. 'But I also didn't want to leave my land. That's the dilemma for us: survive or stay and suffer.'
Following the attacks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that 'Iran's missiles target all of Israel, Jews and Arabs alike.' Yet the disparity in protection and response leaves Palestinian citizens unconvinced.
While Palestinians were detained for online reactions or symbols of solidarity, online calls for violence against them went largely unaddressed. Many feel their citizenship is conditional, offered in form but denied in substance.
For Yara, who dreams of becoming a nurse, the contradiction is painful.
'I want to help people,' she said. 'But how can I serve a country that won't protect my mother?'
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=64901
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Days of Palestine
a day ago
- Days of Palestine
EU Diplomatic Service: Israel Violating Human Rights Commitments in Gaza
DaysofPal- The European Union's diplomatic service has stated that there are signs that the Israeli occupation violates its human rights obligations under the agreement governing its relationship with the EU. The warning comes amid growing concern in European capitals over the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, now entering its 20th month. According to a report published Saturday, seen by Sanad News Agency, and based on assessments by independent international institutions, the EU said there are indications that Israel may be breaching Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which binds both parties to respect human rights and democratic principles. The report highlights that Israel's continued restrictions on the delivery of food, medicine, medical equipment, and other essential supplies are affecting all residents in the impacted areas of Gaza. Last month, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that the Union would assess whether Israel was complying with the terms of its agreement after more than half of EU member states supported a formal review. Under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which came into force in 2000, both parties agreed to base their relationship on respect for human rights and democratic principles. The report also criticizes the obstruction of humanitarian aid, the Israeli attacks that have resulted in large numbers of casualties, and the targeting of hospitals and medical facilities, as well as the forced displacement of civilians and the lack of accountability. In addition, it addresses the situation in the occupied West Bank, including the increasing violence by settlers against Palestinians. The findings are based on verified facts and independent international evaluations, focusing on recent developments in Gaza and the West Bank. Since October 7, 2023, with full backing from the United States, the Israeli occupation forces have waged a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed or injured over 185,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, with over 10,000 still missing. The war has caused widespread destruction and a deadly famine and is considered one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the world today. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
a day ago
- Days of Palestine
UN: Israel Continues to Block Fuel Shipments into Gaza
DaysofPal- The United Nations confirmed that Israeli occupation forces continue to prevent fuel shipments from entering Gaza for the 16th consecutive week, warning of the catastrophic consequences of these practices on the lives of the people in the besieged strip. UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric stated during a press briefing: 'Israel has been preventing the entry of fuel shipments into Gaza for 16 weeks.' He pointed out that UN officials managed to recover a quantity of fuel that was already present at the Tahrir Station in Rafah on the previous Wednesday. According to Dujarric, a limited amount of this fuel was delivered on Thursday to public facilities in southern Gaza, allowing water desalination plants, water distribution trucks, and sewage pumping stations to continue operating. He also revealed that fuel was sent to northern Gaza on Friday but emphasized: 'The fuel shortage is severely restricting operations and leading to reduced working hours and capacity.' Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
a day ago
- Days of Palestine
Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Released, White House Opposes Court Ruling
DaysofPal- Palestinian activist and Columbia University researcher Mahmoud Khalil was released following a federal judge's order to end his 104-day detention. Khalil had been a prominent figure in pro-Palestinian protests opposing the Israeli war on Gaza. He was arrested on March 8 in his university housing in Manhattan amid a controversial crackdown on student-led demonstrations. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had taken a harsh stance on the protests, calling them 'antisemitic' and vowing to deport foreign students who took part. Khalil became the first target of this policy, despite holding lawful permanent residency in the U.S. In a court hearing, District Judge Michael Farbiarz ordered Khalil's release, stating the government had failed to prove he posed any danger to the community or flight risk. The judge also warned that 'there is a suspicion that immigration charges are being used as a tool to punish the petitioner (Khalil), which would be unconstitutional,' pointing to the political motives behind his detention. The White House quickly criticized the ruling. In an official statement, a spokesperson said, 'There is no legal basis for the New Jersey judge's order, who lacks jurisdiction to release Khalil.' The administration added, 'We are confident our position will prevail on appeal and look forward to his removal from the United States.' Khalil has previously stated that his arrest was politically motivated, in clear violation of his First Amendment rights. Shortlink for this post:
