As missile fire continues and tensions with Iran escalate, a nationwide emergency response center has been activated to support Israelis with disabilities during alarms, missile attacks, and evacuations.
The “Purple War Room,” now operating in full emergency mode, was established by former MK Shirly Pinto Kadosh to address the critical lack of accessible services for people with disabilities during times of conflict. The initiative provides immediate, life-saving assistance to those who are often left unprotected in moments of crisis.
Beneficiaries include individuals who are blind, deaf, on the autism spectrum, elderly, or physically disabled—many of whom require urgent, on-the-ground support, accessible real-time updates, and evacuation assistance under challenging conditions.
Pinto Kadosh's personal experience with disabilities and wartime
For Pinto Kadosh, the mission is deeply personal. Her mother, Vered, is deaf-blind and unable to respond to sirens or visual alerts without outside help.
“When there’s an alarm, she can’t hear it, can’t see it, and doesn’t know she needs to run – and my heart stops,” Pinto Kadosh said. “If no one is with her, she has no way of knowing. This reflects the distress of thousands across the country who need a precise, fast, and accessible response. Not tomorrow – now.”
The command center is staffed by hundreds of trained volunteers located throughout the country. Working in close coordination with local and national authorities, they assist in identifying urgent needs, providing real-time communication, and ensuring that life-saving information reaches all populations, regardless of disability.