Assessing the Efficacy of Safe Rooms in Petah Tikva Amid Iranian Missile Threats

Petah Tikva has emerged as a significant target for Iranian missile strikes, particularly during the ongoing conflict and a previous campaign in June 2025. Notably, last year, two safe rooms were directly hit by Iranian missiles, resulting in the deaths of four individuals who were sheltering inside, despite adhering to Home Front Command guidelines. In a recent incident, a cluster bomb from an Iranian missile struck another safe room in Petah Tikva. Fortunately, the lives of a babysitter and the children she was supervising were spared as they were inside the safe room at the time of the attack.

The Jerusalem Post

This situation has reignited discussions regarding the structural integrity and effectiveness of safe rooms in protecting occupants from missile strikes. The Home Front Command has previously clarified that safe rooms are not designed to withstand direct hits from missiles but can offer protection against shrapnel and impact damage. Experts assert that to endure a direct hit from a half-ton missile, a concrete wall thickness of three meters would be necessary—an impractical standard not met by public shelters.

The Jerusalem Post

Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Benny Brosh, a former chief engineer of the Home Front Command, commented on the performance of safe rooms, stating, “In general, safe rooms have stood the test well.” He emphasized that achieving complete safety would require significant financial and architectural investments, which may not be feasible. Brosh likened the situation to the safety of vehicles, noting that even the safest vehicles are not designed to withstand severe impacts without causing harm to passengers.

The Jerusalem Post

In light of the recent missile strike, Brosh highlighted the importance of TAMA 38, a building reinforcement plan that has faced criticism from a planning perspective but has proven beneficial from a safety standpoint. He noted that the damage inflicted on the building that was hit would have been substantially greater had it not been reinforced under this plan. This incident raises further questions about the optimal placement of safe rooms, particularly whether they should be located in external walls or moved to more secure internal areas.

The Jerusalem Post

Following the missile strikes, officials have reiterated the importance of adhering to safety protocols and the need for ongoing assessments of building safety measures. The Home Front Command continues to advocate for public awareness regarding the limitations of safe rooms and the necessity for proper sheltering practices during missile threats.

The Jerusalem Post

Critics argue that the current standards for safe rooms may not adequately protect residents from the evolving threats posed by missile technology. There are calls for a reevaluation of building codes and safety measures to ensure that public shelters can withstand more severe attacks.

The Jerusalem Post

While the Home Front Command maintains that safe rooms provide a level of protection, there is ongoing debate about their effectiveness against direct missile strikes. Some experts suggest that the current guidelines may need to be revised to reflect the realities of modern warfare.

The Jerusalem Post

• “In general, safe rooms have stood the test well. At a level where, if you had asked me before, I would have estimated that the situation would have ended a little worse.” — Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Benny Brosh, former chief engineer of the Home Front Command.

The Jerusalem Post

• “There is no doubt that the damage that would have been caused to the building would have been much greater than what was caused to it after reinforcement and protection,” he notes.” — Lt. Col. (res.) Dr. Benny Brosh.

The Jerusalem Post