The Standing Together movement has installed the first protective shelters in unrecognized Bedouin villages in the Negev, after raising more than 500,000 shekels in small donations from thousands of citizens in June 2025. So far, 10 shelters have been purchased, with three placed in Bir al-Hamam, Abu Tarash, and Al-Ruways. The initiative aims to address the lack of protection for communities exposed to rocket fire.

A January 2025 report by the State Comptroller found that 3.2 million people in Israel live without standard protective shelters, with the most severe conditions in Bedouin communities. About 165,000 residents in these areas have no access to protection and must lie on the ground when alarms sound. The movement criticized the government for failing to ensure adequate safety despite longstanding warnings about rocket threats.

Bureaucratic obstacles have compounded the problem. Even recognized Bedouin villages such as Abu Talool lack protective infrastructure, and residents who attempt to build safe rooms risk demolition due to permit issues. Arab localities more broadly face a severe shortage of public shelters, and a High Court ruling in 2024 determined that responsibility for providing protection lies with municipalities and individuals rather than the state. The State Comptroller reported that no government body currently oversees the safety of these communities.