Beaches remain closed to the public.<\/p>\n
The guidelines will remain in effect until Saturday night, when the Home Front Command will conduct another assessment.<\/p>\n
A US general said<\/a> on Wednesday that Iran\u2019s rate of missile fire against Israel and other countries had dropped 86% since the start of the conflict.<\/p>\n \t The Home Front Command imposed restrictions on the public on Saturday, at the start of the offensive against Iran.<\/p>\n The guidelines barred all non-essential workplaces and educational activities from operating, and disallowed large gatherings or services, both indoors and outdoors.<\/p>\n The restrictions applied to both the public and private sectors, with the exception of essential businesses and services, which could remain open, although at limited capacities.<\/p>\n The guidelines were expected to take a heavy toll on the economy.<\/p>\n The Finance Ministry warned<\/a> on Wednesday that, if the restrictions remained in place, the estimated cost to the economy would reach NIS 9.4 billion ($3 billion) per week.<\/p>\n In a letter sent to Home Front Command chief Maj. Gen. Shai Klapper on Wednesday, Finance Ministry Director General Ilan Rom asked to ease restrictions to allow for a gradual, partial reopening of businesses and workplaces as early as Thursday.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no dispute about the need to preserve a defense policy adapted to the security situation, but at the same time, shutting down the economy on a broad scale carries heavy economic costs,\u201d Rom cautioned.<\/p>\n Also, the first repatriation flights from Athens bringing home thousands of Israelis who were stranded abroad during the war were set to arrive in Israel<\/a> overnight Wednesday-Thursday.<\/p>\n An estimated 100,000 Israelis have been unable to return home since the outbreak of hostilities.<\/p>\n Iran has fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel since the start of the war, killing 11 and wounding hundreds.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tPeople take shelter in Tel Aviv on February 28, 2026 (Ilia Yefimovich\/AFP)<\/p>\n
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