Tamra Mourns Four Daughters Lost to Iran’s Missiles

In the northern Israeli city of Tamra, a missile strike on the Khatib family home late last night (Saturday) claimed the lives of four daughters, including 20-year-old Shada, a gifted law student at the University of Haifa.

The Khatib family’s residence, a roughly ten-year-old reinforced concrete building, met Israel’s stringent safety standards, with safe rooms (known as mamads), in both housing units. Yet, the four victims, daughters of brothers Raja and Ihab Khatib, prominent lawyers in the region, were not inside the safe room when an Iranian missile struck their home. “Staying in the safe room could have saved lives,” reported Walla News, adding that even a sturdy structure like the Khatibs’ could not withstand a direct hit.

The explosion’s force rippled through Tamra, damaging homes within a 200-meter radius. Nearby buildings, also modern with safe rooms, saw over ten residents evacuated with minor injuries, likely spared worse outcomes because they sheltered properly. Older structures without safe rooms would have fared far worse, local reports suggest. Tamra, a close-knit community, is reeling from the loss. The Khatib brothers, absent during the strike, returned to confront the devastation. Their wives, both named Manar and both educators, were among the family’s pillars.

Shada, the eldest daughter of Raja and Manar, stood out as a rising star. A first-year law student, she was described by Professor Itamar Mann at the University of Haifa as a “gifted” scholar with a bright future. “She was quiet, but her curious eyes absorbed every word,” Mann wrote on June 15.

During a class discussion, Shada’s quick, insightful responses prompted Mann to jest, “Do you want to stand here in my place?” Her reply, “Yes, maybe, in a few years”, reflected her ambition. She earned the highest grade in her Introduction to Legal Theory course, a testament to her promise. “The loss is immense,” Mann added. “May her memory be a blessing.”