Ilana Malka was unsure if her three grand-nieces and nephews were still alive after an Iranian missile struck a shelter in the town of Beit Shemesh, central Israel, on 1/3.

The building above the shelter was shattered, with large concrete blocks flying out and destroying cars parked 50 meters away. The missile directly hit the community protection center, which was open to shelter residents, killing at least 9 people, injuring 46, and leaving 11 missing.

"My brother's three grandchildren were in that shelter, but they haven't found them yet," Malka, 65, said with a trembling voice. "It was a truly horrific day."

Residents gather around the scene where a public shelter was hit by an Iranian missile in Beit Shemesh, central Israel, on 1/3. Photo: AFP

Her house, located about 100 meters from the shelter, had shattered windows, a partially collapsed ceiling, and oranges blown off trees in the garden due to the blast pressure. She considered herself fortunate for not having run to the shelter this time when the siren sounded as usual.

That day, feeling too tired, she decided to take shelter in her home's basement. This basement was substandard, and its door was blown away by the explosion around noon on 1/3.

Like Malka, most residents in the neighborhood knew each other and had relatives inside the public shelter. "Beit Shemesh is a small town, so everyone knows everyone," said Moshe Levy, a 52-year-old contractor.

His sister had moved their 88-year-old mother out of the apartment he had just finished renovating last week, only two hours before the attack. Despite not being too close to where the missile landed, the apartment still sustained damage, losing windows and having a hole in its roof.

"Here, it's just material damage that can be repaired, but over there, money cannot save human lives," he said, expressing condolences for the community's loss.

Injured people are taken for emergency treatment. Photo: AP

Israel's air defense system had shot down many missiles launched from Iran, but the recent damage served as a reminder that interceptor systems, however advanced, cannot guarantee absolute safety for civilians.

The conflict began on 28/2, when the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran then vowed retaliation and escalated the conflict with a series of missile launches into Israel, Gulf states, and US military bases in the region.

Ricki Ben David, a 56-year-old nurse, was initially worried about her grandchildren living downstairs. "As for myself, I'm not worried. I only worry about my family," she said.

"I know these people," she said of the attack's victims. "They are people we know, neighbors, like family. This was simply a terrible day," Ben David expressed.

"We live together, pray together in the synagogue, meet on holidays, help each other," she added.

The scene of the attack. Photo: AFP

At the explosion site, rescue teams worked through the night, continuing to search for the missing, while police and military officers dispersed hundreds of onlookers to prevent another attack.

Hong Hanh (AFP)