Ramat Gan School Destroyed by Missile Debris from Houthi Attack

A school building in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, was severely damaged after debris from a partially intercepted ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen struck the structure. The missile was intercepted by Israel’s defense systems during an attack aimed at central Israel. Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen visited the site on Thursday and confirmed that the Ramat Ef’al elementary school would be demolished and rebuilt, estimating the damage at around NIS 40 million ($11 million).

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the missile was shot down overnight, but some fragments from the missile or its interceptor fell onto the school, causing the destruction of its main building. Despite the significant damage, no injuries were reported, though some parked cars in the vicinity were damaged by the falling debris. Sirens had gone off earlier, prompting millions of Israelis to rush to bomb shelters in the middle of the night.

In response to the attack, Ramat Gan’s mayor reassured the public that the students of Ramat Ef’al would be transferred to a different school while the damage was assessed. Local psychological services would also be available to support the community in the aftermath of the attack. Education Minister Yoav Kisch visited the site and confirmed that the students would likely be able to return to their studies within a couple of weeks, as an alternative building was already available for use.

Fortunately, the attack took place during the night, preventing any students or staff from being in the school at the time. Nir, a father of one of the students, expressed his relief: "It’s lucky that there were no children here. It’s awful." Meanwhile, Ravit Baranes, a mother of a student at the school, described the mixed reactions among students, some of whom were hoping for a few days off from school.

This missile attack is part of a broader series of assaults launched by the Houthi rebels, who have targeted Israel with over 200 missiles and 170 drones in the past year. These attacks are reportedly in support of Gaza, where Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, has been in conflict with Israel since October 2023.

In response to the missile attacks, Israel carried out preplanned bombing missions targeting Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including the capital Sana’a and critical ports. Israeli Air Force jets struck Houthi sites to prevent weapon shipments from Iran to the rebels, further intensifying the regional conflict.

Kisch praised the IDF’s response, stating that the airstrikes sent a strong message: “The long and strong arm of Israel will reach all arenas that act against us.”

In addition to the damage in Ramat Gan, smaller fragments from the intercepted missiles were found in other areas, including Modiin and near the Knesset building in Jerusalem. In Modiin, minor damage occurred, but fortunately, there were no injuries. Similarly, two small fragments were discovered outside the Knesset, with no reported harm, and were promptly removed by Israel Police.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for these missile launches, positioning themselves in opposition to Israel's actions in Gaza. However, the IDF’s air defense systems have successfully intercepted the majority of these missiles, with a few hitting buildings and causing casualties in Tel Aviv.