Israeli ministers were conducting an urgent telephone poll on Sunday to approve an extension of the special situation on the home front across the country, according to a document reviewed by Kikar HaShabbat. The decision comes amid concerning security assessments regarding the fronts in Iran and Lebanon and is expected to take effect once approved by the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, whose sign off was anticipated later in the day.
According to the document, the declaration will remain in force until July 28, 2026, corresponding to the 14th of Av. The document states that the extension is being made in light of uncertainty regarding developments on the fronts in Iran and Lebanon.
A central part of the document contains a stark warning from security officials, who wrote that in their assessment there continues to be a high probability that an attack on the civilian population will take place. The explicit language reflects the level of concern within the defense establishment over the possibility of a direct strike on Israeli communities and civilians.
The special home front status, granted under Israel's Civil Defense Law, gives the IDF and the Home Front Command broad authority to manage civilian life during a state of emergency. Among the powers this includes are the obligation to remain in protected spaces during alerts, the adoption of various precautionary measures by the public, restrictions on schooling and the closure of educational institutions if necessary, binding instructions to aid organizations and public bodies, and additional directives required for the purpose of saving life and property. These powers allow the Home Front Command to respond quickly and flexibly to any change in the security situation without lengthy bureaucratic processes.
Tensions with Iran have escalated in recent months, with Iran threatening revenge over military actions attributed to Israel and the United States. President Donald Trump has meanwhile announced additional strikes inside Iran, raising the risk of further escalation.
Despite the alarming wording in the document, defense officials sought to calm public concern. The document states that as of this hour, there are no new instructions from the Home Front Command for the civilian population, though it notes that such instructions may need to be renewed. Officials clarified that the nature of any future instructions and restrictions will continue to be examined by professional bodies in accordance with the assessment of the situation and the nature of the threat facing civilians. The extension itself functions as a preliminary legal step that allows for immediate operational flexibility in the event of an escalation.
The document also states that should there be a positive change in the security circumstances, the declaration will be cancelled immediately or narrowed to specific areas where there is an operational need. Ahead of the declaration's expiration at the end of July, the need for a further extension will be examined in accordance with the security situation at that time.
