Qatra Police Station, Heritage fortified police station in Gedera, Israel

Qatra Police Station is a fortified police building in Gedera with two floors, reinforced concrete walls, and integrated water systems. These features were designed specifically to support extended security operations and periods of isolation.

The station was built in 1941 during the British Mandate as part of a network of forts created after the Arab Revolt of 1936-1939 to maintain control. This security system was meant to keep order in the region and marked a shift in British presence.

The station is named after the Arab village of Qatra, which stood east of the building. In the 1990s the fort served for several years as an absorption center for Ethiopian immigrants, and since the early 2000s it has stood abandoned. In late 2022 Israel Police construction crews sealed its openings to block entry.

The fort stands near Gedera, beside Route 40, and has been abandoned since the early 2000s. At the end of 2022, Israel Police construction crews sealed its openings to prevent entry, so the interior cannot be visited. The structure can be seen from outside, and the sealed gate and tower are visible from the road.

The building has specialized water storage solutions built directly into its structure, allowing independent operations over extended periods. This system shows how British planners integrated self-sufficiency into their fort designs.