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As Iranian missiles cascaded upon Israel, many inhabitants sought refuge, sirens blaring nationwide as people hurried to safety. However, for some Palestinian citizens of Israel—approximately two million individuals, constituting about 21 percent of the population—access to bomb shelters was denied, not by the devastation, but by neighbors.
Exclusion During Missile Attacks
Residing primarily within Israel’s recognized borders, numerous Palestinian citizens discovered themselves barred from necessary infrastructure amid the recent Iran-Israel conflict.
Denied Entry to Shelters
Samar al-Rashed, a 29-year-old mother living near Acre, experienced this firsthand. During the missile strikes, she and her daughter, Jihan, sought shelter in their apartment complex.
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“I had no time to pack,” she recounted. “Just water, our phones, and my daughter’s hand.”
As she guided her daughter towards the shelter, a neighbor reportedly blocked their entry upon hearing them speak Arabic.
“I was shocked,” Samar stated. “I speak Hebrew fluently. I tried to explain, but he dismissed us, saying, ‘Not for you.’”
Samar described feeling the societal divisions acutely. Witnessing the missile strikes from her apartment, she felt terrorized by both the attacks and her neighbors’ actions.
Systemic Discrimination Against Palestinian Citizens
Palestinian citizens of Israel have historically encountered systemic discrimination in areas such as housing, education, employment, and governmental services. Despite holding citizenship, they are often treated as second-class citizens, with their allegiance frequently questioned.
The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel reports that over 65 laws directly or indirectly enact discrimination. The 2018 nation-state law further solidified this disparity, defining Israel as the “nation-state of the Jewish people,” a move criticized for institutionalizing inequality.
Such discrimination often intensifies during periods of conflict.
Palestinian citizens frequently face increased scrutiny and limitations, including:
- Discriminatory policing.
- Arrests linked to social media activity.
- Denial of shelter access.
- Verbal abuse in mixed communities.
Many have already reported these experiences.
Locked Out During Attacks
In Haifa, Mohammed Dabdoob, 33, sought refuge in a public shelter after alerts sounded. However, he found the door locked.
“I tried the code. It didn’t work. I banged on the door, called on those inside to open – in Hebrew – and waited. No one opened,” he said. A nearby explosion shattered glass across the street. “I thought I was going to die.”
He described the scene as terrifying, reminiscent of the Beirut port explosion.
Later, the shelter opened, and Mohammed observed those exiting.
“There’s no real safety for us,” he lamented. “Not from the missiles, and not from the people who are supposed to be our neighbors.”
Unequal Access to Protected Spaces
While theoretically, all Israeli citizens should have equal access to safety measures, the reality is different.
Palestinian towns and villages have considerably fewer protected spaces compared to Jewish localities. A 2022 report indicated that over 70 percent of homes in Palestinian communities lack a safe room or equivalent protection, compared to 25 percent of Jewish homes. Municipalities often receive less funding for civil defense improvements.
Inequality persists even in mixed cities like Lydd (Lod).
Turned Away from Shelters
Yara Srour, a 22-year-old student in Lydd, recounted her family’s experience seeking shelter. They were denied entry to shelters in a safer part of the city to which they attempted to flee.
“We went to the new part of Lydd where there are proper shelters,” Yara said. “Yet, they wouldn’t let us in… it was only for the ‘new residents’ — those in the modern buildings, mostly middle-class Jewish families.”
Yara vividly recalled the ordeal.
“My mother has joint problems and couldn’t run like the rest of us,” she said. “We were begging, knocking on doors. But people just looked at us through peepholes and ignored us, while we saw the sky light up with fires of intercepted rockets.”
Lasting Trauma and Resentment
Samar expressed that being turned away from the shelter left deep psychological scars.
“That night, I felt completely alone,” she said. “I didn’t report it to the police – what’s the point? They wouldn’t have done anything.”
Later, an attack in Tamra resulted in fatalities. From her balcony, Samar witnessed the aftermath.
“It felt like the end of the world,” she said. “And still, even under attack, we’re treated as a threat, not as people.”
She has since relocated to her parents’ home and is considering fleeing to Jordan.
“I wanted to protect Jihan… But I also didn’t want to leave my land. That’s the dilemma for us – survive, or stay and suffer.”
Despite Prime Minister Netanyahu’s statement that “Iran’s missiles target all of Israel – Jews and Arabs alike,” experiences on the ground suggest otherwise.
Disproportionate Treatment
Even prior to the conflict, Palestinian citizens were disproportionately arrested for expressing political views. Calls for violence against Palestinians online were often overlooked.
“The state expects our loyalty in war,” said Mohammed Dabdoob. “But when it’s time to protect us, we’re invisible.”
For Samar, Yara, Mohammed, and countless others, the message is clear: they are recognized as citizens, but treated as outsiders.
Seeking Equal Protection
“I want safety like anyone else,” said Yara. “I’m studying to become a nurse. I want to help people. But how can I serve a country that won’t protect my mother?”