Tel Aviv municipality charges residents to shelter from rockets in parking garages: Report
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Hebrew media reports residents in Tel Aviv were asked to pay to leave an underground parking shelter during rocket sirens.
- The incident sparked criticism of the municipality and its parking operator over emergency shelter access.
Hebrew media reported Sunday that the municipality in Tel Aviv faced criticism after residents were allegedly asked to pay fees while seeking shelter from rocket attacks inside an underground parking facility.
According to reports cited by the Hebrew outlet Ynet, a mother and her son were briefly prevented from leaving a municipal parking garage operated by the company Ahuzot HaHof unless they paid a fee for the time spent inside. The pair had entered the garage to take cover after air-raid sirens sounded.
Resident recounts incident
A resident identified as Itay told the outlet he rushed into the parking facility on Shilanov Street immediately after hearing warning sirens. After authorities declared the situation safe, he said staff requested payment for the roughly 20 minutes he remained inside.
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“I never imagined someone would charge money for using a shelter,” Itay said, describing the situation as “strange and completely disconnected from reality.”
Municipality response
The Tel Aviv municipality said in a statement, according to Hebrew media, that parking garages designated as emergency shelters are intended primarily for pedestrians. Officials added that drivers who enter with vehicles receive the first 15 minutes free but must pay after that period.
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Municipal authorities also argued that vehicle movement inside garages during emergencies could pose safety risks to pedestrians seeking refuge.
Public criticism grows
The incident has drawn criticism from residents and commentators, who say the policy reflects confusion over emergency instructions in the city during rocket alerts.
Critics also accused Mayor Ron Huldai of prioritizing revenue collection over public safety during wartime conditions. Observers say the episode highlights growing pressure on local authorities to ensure clear and accessible shelter options for residents during escalating regional tensions.
