Thousands of settlers homeless as Israeli failures in Iran war exposed

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
2 Jul 2025 10:17
1 Shares

A Knesset report reveals massive internal failures during the war with Iran, leaving up to 19,000 settlers homeless and prompting over 45,000 compensation claims amid criticism of “Israel’s” lack of emergency coordination.

Firefighters, rescue workers, and IOF work at the site of a direct missile strike launched from Iran in Tel Aviv, on June 22, 2025. (AP)

Israeli media revealed the impact of the recent war on Iran on the occupation's domestic front, indicating that between 13,000 to 19,000 settlers were left homeless across 17 areas. As of now, 45,730 compensation claims have been filed.

According to Maariv, the so-called State Comptroller Committee in the Knesset discussed a report reviewing the readiness of local authorities for emergencies in light of the widespread damage caused by the war on Iran, which revealed governmental failure in crisis management, citing a lack of coordination and significant shortcomings in addressing the basic needs of the population.

Knesset member and committee chair Mickey Levy stated, "The same failure has been repeating for 20 years: no comprehensiveness, no preparedness, no responsibility. The state has learned nothing, even after October 7."

He added that local authorities were doing their part, but the state was entirely absent, asking: "Who is responsible? The Prime Minister’s Office? The Ministry of Social Affairs? There is no single body coordinating response or providing housing or shelter solutions."

In numbers

According to data from the Knesset Research Center, approximately 11,000 evacuated settlers were accommodated in about 100 hotels across the territories, while others were left to find shelter on their own.

Among the affected settlements were:

Tel Aviv: 2,550 evacuated
Ramat Gan: 2,500 evacuated
Bnei Brak: 2,050 evacuated
Beer al-Sabe': 1,700 evacuated
Bat Yam: 1,300 evacuated
Holon: 1,050 evacuated
Petah Tikva 1,000 evacuated, in addition to Rishon LeZion and Rehovot

Evacuated settlers filed 45,730 compensation claims with the tax authority for property damages, including 35,981 related to building damage. Other claims involved equipment, vehicles, warehouses, infrastructure, and agriculture.

During the session, local authorities heavily criticized the central government for the lack of support and coordination, pointing out serious gaps in infrastructure fortification. They warned against the absence of long-term housing solutions and the growing economic burden of accommodating the evacuated.

Avi Mishrim, of the National Emergency Authority, said that coordination does not fall under their mandate, stating that the director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office is responsible. He added, “Greater preparedness is needed.”

Karine Ofer from the Ministry of Social Affairs admitted that no single entity is coordinating the rehabilitation process, stressing: "People in hotels are unaware of their rights, and there is no clear information. We have learned nothing from October 7."

More than 3,000 injured

On Monday, Maariv reported a sharp increase in the human toll resulting from Iranian missile strikes during "Israel's" recent 12-day war on Iran, in which "Israel" sustained heavy damage from Iranian retaliatory strikes.

Citing data from the Israeli Ministry of Health, the report revealed that approximately 3,345 settlers sustained injuries and received treatment in hospitals throughout the war. Among them, 23 settlers remain in critical condition, while three others succumbed to their injuries during hospitalization.

The war also took a significant psychological toll. The ministry reported a noticeable rise in trauma-related mental health cases, including a surge in both new and returning patients seeking psychological support amid the escalation.