Israeli Students Return Amid Security Concerns
The updated guidelines, which take effect at 6 a.m., allow educational institutions and workplaces in most parts of the country to resume normal operations after weeks of disruption since the war began on February 28.
Schools across most of Israel are set to reopen Thursday for the first time in over a month, after the IDF Home Front Command announced a broad easing of wartime restrictions following the fragile ceasefire with Iran.
The updated guidelines, which take effect at 6 a.m., allow educational institutions and workplaces in most parts of the country to resume normal operations after weeks of disruption since the war began on February 28.
However, the return to routine is not uniform. In northern Israel, restrictions will remain in place due to the ongoing threat of Hezbollah rocket fire from Lebanon. In those areas, including communities along the border, parts of the Golan Heights, the Upper Galilee, and the Haifa Bay region, schools will operate only under protected conditions.
Educational activities in these regions will be limited to spaces with access to bomb shelters, while public gatherings will remain capped at 50 people outdoors and 200 indoors. Workplaces can operate only if employees have quick access to protected areas.
In the rest of the country, most restrictions have been lifted, though some limits remain, including a cap of 1,000 people for large gatherings.
The easing of restrictions is temporary and will be reassessed Thursday evening, with officials expected to decide whether to extend or modify the measures based on the security situation.
Despite the reopening, the military cautioned that the threat has not fully subsided. Hezbollah rocket fire could still reach central Israel or even areas further south, underscoring the continued volatility.
Ahead of the reopening, authorities conducted safety checks around schools, including scans for unexploded ordnance. Local governments were also given flexibility to delay reopening if additional preparation time was needed.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch instructed schools to prioritize students’ emotional well-being after weeks of disruption, encouraging adjustments to help children transition back into routine.
Many municipalities, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and cities across the central and Sharon regions, confirmed they would reopen schools immediately, signaling a cautious but significant step toward normalcy.