A growing number of injuries—and now fatalities—during rocket attacks have intensified scrutiny of Israel’s Home Front Command alert system, with critics asking whether earlier warnings could give civilians more time to reach safety.

In recent years, hundreds of Israelis have been harmed after failing to make it to shelters in time during incoming rocket fire. The incidents have led to renewed debate over whether the current warning system provides sufficient notice, or if it could be adjusted to allow for a longer response window.

Israel’s detection systems are capable of identifying launches from Lebanon anywhere from about 15 seconds to 90 seconds before sirens are triggered, depending on the region. Despite that capability, alerts are not issued immediately upon detection, meaning civilians do not receive the earliest possible warning—unlike the faster alerts typically issued during missile launches from Iran.

A Channel 12 report indicated that extending warning times may be feasible. Communities near the Lebanese border could potentially gain an additional 15 seconds to respond, while residents in central Israel might see their warning window increased from roughly a minute and a half to as much as two and a half minutes.

Even so, the Home Front Command continues to rely on a system that divides the country into fixed protection zones, each with a predetermined warning time that does not change based on when a launch is detected.

Israeli journalist Almog Boker, who lives in the south, voiced frustration shared by many, asking: “Why wait until it costs human lives?”

Officials explain that the delay in sounding sirens is deliberate. One reason is to allow time to more accurately determine the rocket’s trajectory, reducing the likelihood of unnecessary alerts in areas not actually under threat.

Another factor, according to the military, is the importance of consistency. If residents know they have a set amount of time—such as 90 seconds—they can react accordingly. Constantly shifting warning times could lead to confusion and panic.

However, these strategic considerations stand in contrast to the realities faced by civilians, particularly the elderly, individuals with physical limitations, and families with small children, for whom even a few extra seconds can make a life-or-death difference.

That reality was underscored this week when Yaron Moshe and his wife Ilana were killed after an Iranian missile struck their apartment in Ramat Gan. The couple, both in their seventies, were unable to reach their safe room before impact. Initial assessments suggest that the husband’s disability slowed their ability to get to shelter in time.

The missile struck the living room directly, causing extensive destruction throughout the apartment. The protected room, however, remained intact despite the severe damage elsewhere in the home.

{Matzav.com}