The IDF Homefront Command instructed the residents of the Gaza vicinity to build fortified rooms with thicker walls, similar to the educational institutions in the area, with 40cm (15.5 inches) thick walls. The new directive comes in the background of ongoing efforts by Gaza-based terrorists to improve their rockets and mortar shells, thereby increasing the regional threat, Walla News reports.

This directive significantly improves the protective abilities of the safe rooms and compares it to the standard of the educational institutions, which for more than a decade have been protected from rockets and missiles and walls of 40cm. Security officials emphasized that the new directives do not rule out the previous protective room standard.

The terrorist organizations in Gaza continue their efforts to improve their rocket and mortar stockpiles by smuggling them through the sea and tunnels under the Philadelphi Route along the Egyptian border, but also through technological developments and local military industry led by Hamas engineers. As part of this effort, the terrorist organizations are conducting experiments to increase the range and precision and are examining changes in the warheads.

According to assessments in the defense establishment, at this stage in Gaza, they have not yet succeeded in expanding the range of rockets beyond the Dan region. Nevertheless, last Sunday, the Islamic Jihad claimed that they had succeeded in developing a missile that could reach Tel Aviv and Netanya from Gaza. According to them, the missile may even reach “far from there, only Allah knows how much.”

Meanwhile, a military source related to the security situation on the northern border, saying that “in the north the frontal fortification was relaxed from 60cm to 40cm, when additional frontal communities were added and where additional reinforcement was required, but this only pertains to new homes.”

The IDF Spokesperson’s Office said in response that “a few months ago, the Civil Defense Regulations were updated, and a new protection specification was set in the front communities, according to which the front protection will be 40cm in size in 2019.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)