Members of the 'Israeli' Knesset Honor Guard, Home Front Command, firefighters.
Report exposes 'Israel’s' unpreparedness in Gaza and Lebanon war
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- 'Israeli' audit finds serious gaps in civilian protection during 'Israeli' war on Gaza and Lebanon.
- Millions lack access to adequate shelters; schools, emergency services, and compensation mechanisms underprepared.
A new official 'Israeli' report has revealed that civil authorities were insufficiently prepared to protect the population during the recent war on Gaza and Lebanon, leaving over 3 million 'Israelis' without access to adequate shelters.
The report, highlighted by the Jerusalem Post and authored by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, identifies major gaps in civil defense readiness following the October 7 events and subsequent wars. It is the 9th in a series of audits reviewing 'Israel’s' wartime preparedness.
Shelter and civil defense failures
Roughly one-third of the population lacks access to standard-compliant shelters or safe spaces. 'Israeli' authorities were unable to ensure continuity of essential services, timely relief, or economic compensation during the war, according to the report.
The audit highlighted pre-existing issues that became acute during the war, including the freezing of the second phase of a national program to protect municipalities, leaving local authorities without clear guidance and forcing them to improvise during a national emergency.
Inspectors also found widespread deficiencies in shelter maintenance and oversight, with more than 11% of public shelters deemed unusable. Regular inspections were largely absent in previous years, particularly in peripheral areas and minority communities, including Bedouin villages in the Negev.
Education under threat
The report criticizes the education system’s lack of preparedness for extended emergencies. Despite lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, 'Israel' had not fully implemented a digital education strategy, leaving schools without sufficient infrastructure for remote learning.
As a result, the continuity of education was disrupted, with hundreds of thousands of students attending partially protected or closed schools, negatively affecting both academic performance and mental health.
Compensation and reconstruction gaps
The report also highlighted delays and instability in financial compensation mechanisms. Although billions of dollars were disbursed, temporary arrangements lacked proper oversight and a central framework for managing reconstruction in the affected northern and southern regions.
The State Comptroller called for urgent structural reforms, including long-term, fully funded national programs for civil protection, closing safety gaps in schools, accelerating digital education, and establishing permanent legislation to ensure fair and rapid compensation.
Official response
In response, the 'Israeli' army stated that civil defense leadership is continuously working to strengthen protection measures for civilians, learning from past failures to enhance resilience.
The report comes amid ongoing legal and political debate over accountability for wartime failures. While the comptroller emphasized the importance of independent oversight during prolonged emergencies, the Supreme Court issued temporary orders blocking investigations into several key cases to avoid interference with potential future inquiries.
