When tensions between countries rise to the point that missile attacks become a real concern, preparation usually starts well before any warning sirens sound. Hospitals review their emergency plans, aid groups move supplies closer to vulnerable communities, and civil defense teams begin preparing evacuation routes.
In Israel, some of that preparation is now being coordinated by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, known as IFCJ or The Fellowship. Even prior to the most recent conflict erupting, the organization recently announced that it had begun emergency preparations as concerns about missile fire from Iran intensified.
IFCJ teams began coordinating with local authorities, hospitals, rescue organizations, and food distribution partners across Israel to ensure aid can reach families quickly if attacks hit civilian areas.
The effort is overseen by Yael Eckstein, IFCJ President and Global CEO, who leads one of the largest faith-based humanitarian networks connected to Israel, and her talented team worldwide.
Security crises often create urgent civilian needs that extend beyond the military response. Homes can be destroyed, hospitals may receive waves of injured patients, and families can suddenly lose access to food, shelter, or transportation.
At the same time, economists warn that a wider conflict with Iran could create longer-term economic pressure across Israel, affecting government spending, education systems, and national debt.
Emergency Planning Before Missile Strikes
From October 7, 2023 through December 2025, The Fellowship committed $300 million in aid to support the ongoing emergency needs in Israel and to continue to provide assistance in core program areas – everything from prepacked emergency food, water, equipment for first responders and security personnel, to aliyah support of olim and other needy populations impacted by the war and ongoing conflict.
One of the most immediate needs during missile threats is physical protection. Across Israel, mobile bomb shelters were already prepared for rapid deployment.
Some of those shelters are Arbel units designed with heavy steel doors that help protect civilians from the impact and shrapnel that can follow ballistic missile strikes. Additional mobile shelters were also moved into communities that may need extra protection.
Further shelters may be installed if needed, following guidelines set by Israel’s Home Front Command, which oversees civilian safety during missile threats.
Hospitals were also prepared for emergency situations.
At Rambam Medical Center in northern Israel, a protected underground hospital complex exists specifically for large-scale emergencies. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews helped establish the facility so medical teams can continue treating patients even if missile alerts affect the surrounding area.
Nearby, Galilee Medical Center prepared 300 hospital beds inside a protected facility, allowing treatment to continue if emergency departments begin receiving large numbers of casualties.
IFCJ also donated a mobile X-ray machine that allows doctors to diagnose injuries quickly if resources at the hospital are stretched thin.
Food supply planning is another part of IFCJ’s emergency response. IFCJ helped assemble thousands of food packages for families across Israel.
The organization also prepared food purchase cards that municipal welfare departments distributed to families whose homes are damaged or who must evacuate during missile attacks.
Emergency responders were equipped as well. Across the country, first aid kits were prepared for local authorities. Each kit includes rescue tools, medical supplies, protective equipment, lighting, and other materials to help responders manage dangerous situations until larger rescue teams arrive.
Volunteers with the emergency response organization United Hatzalah have received protective equipment through the program. IFCJ distributed bulletproof vests and helmets equipped with ceramic protective plates so volunteers can safely answer emergency calls in high-risk areas.
At major destruction sites, a specialized Fellowship Forward Command Vehicle has been deployed to assist rescue teams and security personnel working in the field.
Dozens of vehicles donated through IFCJ’s programs are ready to evacuate elderly residents, including people with disabilities, to protected reception centers if communities must be relocated.
Support has extended to Israel’s national emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, which has received bulletproof ambulances and mobile intensive care units funded by the organization.
Other initiatives include emergency kits placed inside bomb shelters and firefighting trailers donated to security officers in communities located along Israel’s confrontation lines.
The High Cost of Conflict
While humanitarian groups prepare for the possibility of civilian emergencies, economists are also watching another side of the situation: the economic cost of a war with Iran.
Modern warfare is expensive. Reserve soldiers must be mobilized, aircraft carry out combat missions, missile defense systems attempt to intercept incoming rockets and large quantities of equipment and munitions must be produced and deployed.
Direct military costs can quickly reach billions of dollars, yet the economic impact of war rarely stops at defense spending.
When security alerts continue for days or weeks, economic activity can begin to slow. Businesses may shorten operating hours, workers may leave their jobs to serve in the military reserves, and transportation networks can face disruptions that make it harder for goods and employees to move normally.
Some parts of Israel’s economy are better equipped to handle those disruptions. The country’s technology sector, for example, often allows employees to work remotely, which helps companies maintain productivity during periods of instability.
Other industries have far less flexibility.
Agriculture must continue operating even during missile alerts because crops still need to be harvested and livestock requires constant care. Industrial production can also face interruptions if supply chains are disrupted or if workers are unable to reach factories during security alerts.
Financial markets tend to respond cautiously during geopolitical crises as investors watch for signs of how long the conflict might last and what it could mean for regional stability.
In previous conflicts involving Israel, markets have sometimes recovered once the fighting ended. Whether that happens again will depend largely on how long the confrontation with Iran continues and whether it changes the overall security in the region.
War’s Economic Aftershock
Some of the most serious economic consequences appear more slowly. One area researchers watch closely is the education system.
When schools close during security emergencies, students can fall behind academically. Even after classes resume, it often takes time for students to adjust to normal classroom routines.
Israel has already experienced similar challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic and earlier periods of instability. Those disruptions showed how prolonged interruptions can widen the gap between students who have strong support systems at home and those who do not.
Education plays a particularly important role in Israel’s economy because the country relies heavily on highly skilled workers and advanced technology industries. When learning is interrupted for long periods, the effects can eventually reach the workforce.
Government finances are another area of concern. Even before the current escalation, Israel faced difficulty passing a national budget for 2026, raising broader questions about fiscal planning.
Military operations require large amounts of funding, and prolonged conflicts often increase government deficits as spending rises.
By December 2024, Israel’s national debt had reached about NIS $1.33 trillion, equal to roughly 69 percent of the country’s GDP. Current estimates suggest the conflict with Iran could add between NIS $15 billion and NIS $25 billion in additional costs.
A Network Ready to Respond
The ability of IFCJ to respond quickly during crises reflects over four decades of organizational growth. Founded in 1983 by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the organization was created to strengthen cooperation between Christians and Jews while supporting humanitarian programs connected to Israel.
Over time, Rabbi Eckstein built relationships with Christian supporters around the world, transforming what began as a small effort into a global donor network supporting humanitarian projects worldwide.
Since its founding, IFCJ has raised more than $4.4 billion for programs that now assist over 2 million people worldwide, including elderly individuals, Holocaust survivors, children, and families facing poverty or the effects of terrorism.
One of its most widely known initiatives, supporting aliyah (immigration to Israel), has helped more than 780,000 Jews immigrate to Israel and begin new lives in the country.
When Rabbi Eckstein passed in 2019, leadership of the organization passed to his daughter, Yael Eckstein, who had already spent years working within IFCJ in senior leadership roles.
As IFCJ has grown, so has public interest in its operations, with many potential donors reviewing IFCJ reviews or IFCJ rating reports when deciding where to give. Questions about nonprofit leadership sometimes appear in those searches as well, including those related to “Yael Eckstein salary.”
Committed to transparency, the organization holds accreditation from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and a platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid. It reports that 76 cents of every dollar raised goes toward humanitarian care and related programs.
As tensions involving Iran continue to develop, that same network is helping ensure Israeli civilians have access to shelter, medical care, food, and evacuation support if conditions worsen.
This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.