In Israel, more and more civilians are choosing to arm themselves

Traumatized by October 7 and Sunday’s stabbing attack, Israelis are choosing in large numbers to buy and carry weapons. They are also being encouraged to arm themselves by the Minister of National Security.

In front of the gun shop in the commercial area at the entrance to Holon, near Tel Aviv, men are hurrying, their faces closed. Shocked by the knife attack that left two dead on Sunday, August 4, which took place a kilometer from here, Israelis continue to rush to the gun shops. They are encouraged by the Minister of National Security, the extremist Itamar Ben Gvir, who has made the carrying of weapons for civilians a priority.

A man approaches with his cap pulled down on his head. He carries a Glock pistol on his belt, clearly visible. Shahar Shaked is 49 years old and this Israeli civilian has been carrying a weapon for five years. Next to him, Shaked El Dod, a 73-year-old former soldier, admits to having been armed permanently for 25 years. “We have no choice. This is our reality unfortunately. You saw what happened on October 7th…”Shahar asks. “And not just on October 7. In Holon, two people were killed”Shaked adds. According to Shahar, over the past eight months, “There have been several cases where civilians were able to intervene and prevent tragedies.”

Since taking over as head of the National Security Ministry in late December 2022, Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, has been pushing the population to arm themselves to strengthen self-defense. Tens of thousands of Israelis have responded to this call, traumatized by the Hamas attack on October 7. The criteria for obtaining them, including the requirement to have served in the army, have been relaxed. To date, 150,000 licenses have been issued.

“I’m considering buying a gun. The threats are too great.”

A resident of Holon

to franceinfo

“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this, but we have to go.”says a man approaching the armory. A few steps away, in front of a poster calling for the return of the Gaza hostages, a man with a kippah on his head says a quick prayer. “I did not apply for a gun permit, he explains. I could have, but I leave it to God and we hope that everything will be fine. Ben Gvir says that everyone should have a weapon. But that can also lead to problems. We must stay alert, and may God protect us.”. On Sunday, August 4, in Holon, Itamar Ben Gvir called on the Israelis to arm themselves even more, “the war, he said, is in our streets.”