Chapter 3: The Evacuation Operation
Evacuating 2,775 people in a matter of hours is a monumental task, and Israel’s response was largely swift and efficient. Most of the evacuations occurred in the southern and central districts, where Iranian missiles had landed in both residential neighborhoods and industrial zones.
Municipal authorities, working with Israel’s Home Front Command, established evacuation corridors and emergency shelters. Hotels in cities like Tel Aviv, Herzliya, and Netanya were quickly repurposed to host families. Special provisions were made for vulnerable populations—including the elderly, people with disabilities, and children—who were assigned priority status in the allocation of rooms and services.
The psychological toll on evacuees was immediately apparent. Many were displaced with only minutes’ notice, forced to leave behind homes that may now be structurally compromised or destroyed. Emergency counseling centers were set up in hotels, and social workers were deployed to provide trauma support and logistical assistance.