Home Front Command loosens restrictions in Israel's lower-risk areas

The IDF Home Front Command announced Saturday evening that some restrictions will be eased in several regions of Israel, including allowing schools to reopen in areas considered less vulnerable to missile attacks from Iran or rocket fire from Hezbollah.

After a new security assessment, the military said that the status in these regions will shift from “limited activity” to “partial activity” starting Monday at 6 a.m. 

The areas affected include the Beit Shean Valley, the Jordan Valley, the West Bank, the Dead Sea region, the western part of the Lachish region, communities near the Gaza Strip, the western Negev, the southern Negev, and the Arava.

In these locations, schools will be allowed to resume classes as long as a nearby shelter is accessible and students can reach it quickly if an alert is issued.

Authorities are also permitting limited gatherings: up to 100 people indoors and 50 people outdoors, provided that a shelter is available nearby.

According to the Home Front Command, the risk of missile attacks from Iran and rocket fire from Hezbollah is significantly lower in these areas than in other parts of the country, which is why fewer warning sirens have been activated there.

However, military officials stressed that a lower threat level does not mean attacks are impossible.

In the rest of the country, restrictions remain unchanged. The activity level there continues to be classified as “limited,” meaning schools stay closed and gatherings are restricted to 50 people, as long as participants can access a shelter in the event of an alert.