A new report from Israeli State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman has dropped a bombshell, revealing a serious lack of preparation for national emergencies. According to the report released this Tuesday, the Israeli government had “zero national evacuation plans” when the Gaza war erupted in October 2023.
Imagine a major crisis hitting, and the government has no clear roadmap for getting its citizens to safety. That’s essentially what Englman found. His investigation painted a “grim picture of a systemic disorder” when it came to preparing for and absorbing residents in emergency situations. When the conflict began, Israel’s government and army lacked an approved national operational plan to evacuate thousands from frontline communities.
This meant that over 200,000 Israelis, displaced from both the northern and southern parts of the country during the conflict, had to be relocated through a makeshift, “ad hoc” system. Imagine the chaos and uncertainty for families forced to leave their homes with no clear, centralized guidance. This approach left local authorities scrambling under immense pressure, essentially making things up as they went along, leading to additional stress and challenges for those already in crisis.
The report highlights a long-standing and concerning issue: unresolved squabbles between the defense and interior ministries regarding who ultimately holds the reins for evacuation planning. These political impasses, which had even been personally brought to the attention of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by Englman himself, remained unaddressed before and during the conflict.
With current tensions in the region, including rising concerns with Iran, Englman stresses the urgency. He states that Israel “must rectify the shortcomings… and prepare for the evacuation of tens of thousands” to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens should another emergency arise. This report serves as a critical call to action, demanding better foresight and coordination for future crises.
