The Israeli newspaper “Jerusalem Post” explained, “Since the October 7 attacks, Israelis have applied for firearms licenses, and the Ministry of National Security has allocated dozens of employees to study and approve those applications, especially with the monitoring of nearly 10,000 new applications during the week following the attack.” Just”.
This comes after the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, announced that his ministry had purchased 10,000 rifles to arm settlers in the occupied West Bank, and others living in cities mixed with Arabs, in addition to arming civil protection teams, in the midst of the war between Israel and Hamas, for fear of an extension of the fighting. To other regions.
In addition to rifles, the ministry’s purchases include helmets and bullet-proof vests, which will be distributed with firearms.
The Israeli authorities have eased restrictions on the possession of firearms, allowing citizens to be further armed in the context of the current conflict.
Queues to buy “weapons”
- The British newspaper “Financial Times” reported that Israelis are currently queuing to buy weapons, as gun store owners say there is an “unprecedented” rise in sales following fears of more unrest in the coming days.
- The newspaper monitored that in a suburb of the Israeli city of Kfar Sava, gunfire was heard on a quiet day as a result of firearms training at a nearby shooting range, and in the city of Holon a queue stretched around a building where Israelis lined up to buy weapons.
- The largest attack in Israel in decades “shattered Israelis’ sense of security” and sparked a war between Israel and Hamas that ignited tensions across the region.
- Managers of three gun stores in Israel said the recent increase in personal gun ownership was “unprecedented,” with lines so long that stores remained open overtime, and in some cases opened on holidays.
- On the other hand, Palestinians, whether living within Israel’s 1948 borders or in the occupied West Bank, fear that these weapons will be directed at them, given the anger and fear among Israelis since the October 7 attacks.
- Firearm sales in Israel have been clearly restricted for many years, declining from 185,000 pieces in 2009 to less than 150,000 pieces in 2021.
The concept of personal security has changed
The American expert specializing in security and strategic affairs, Irina Zuckerman, told Sky News Arabia that the Hamas attack “most likely led to a permanent change in the concept of personal security within Israel, creating a new sense of individual responsibility for self-defense and family security and a decrease in trust in the government.” and security services.”
Tsukerman attributed the noticeable increase in the possession of personal weapons inside Israel to a number of reasons, “most notably the call-up of 300,000 reserve soldiers in the largest operation of its kind in years, which leaves many areas with much less protection than usual in the event of a new infiltration by Hamas elements.” “Or a war would break out on two fronts.”
In addition, “continuous missile attacks and pressure from the north pose a much higher security threat than the Israelis have faced in many years,” according to the security expert, who noted that “this leads to a growing sense of anxiety and increases interest in self-defense.”
She pointed out that Israel “maintained for years very strict laws for obtaining weapons, as it was required to obtain formal training and for these people to have a security role in protecting society, as firearms licenses are generally granted only to those who need more protection according to the scope of the law.” their work or daily life.
The American expert specializing in security affairs said that many Israelis expressed their feeling of “let down by (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s government,” and on the other hand, they are looking forward to contributing to collective security.
She warned that “this matter may have many future repercussions,” saying: “This is a sign of a rising index of distrust in the government, and a growing social feeling that the war may be long-term and cannot be easily resolved, but it is likely to contribute in the long term.” “The long-term increase in tensions inside Israel.”
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