Israel has relaxed the country’s restrictive gun laws amid its war with Hamas, Israel Nation News has reported.
Many Israeli citizens urged the government to loosen the rules in place following Hamas’ brazen attack on Oct. 7, as more than 7,946 new requests to carry arms were received by the National Security Ministry since the fighting began.
Private citizens in Israel are granted firearm licenses only if they can prove they need extra security in their line of work or daily life, according to The Times of Israel. One of the key criteria for receiving permission is where one lives.
An online petition to ease gun permit rules gained 22,000 signatures in 24 hours last week, according to the news outlet.
"People are changing their opinion, and now there is more awareness," Rabbi Raz Blizovsky, 32, of Katzrin told the publication.
“There are terror attacks in both places,” he stressed.
“It’s a pity this is happening the way it did,” he added. “I have been involved with groups that have been talking about this issue for years. During calm times, people don’t do anything,” he said.
Israeli strikes on Gaza have killed at least 2,778 people and wounded some 9,700, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and nearly two-thirds of those killed were children. Another 1,200 people across Gaza are believed to be buried under rubble, alive or dead, health authorities said.
More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians who were slain in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. The assault also resulted in some 200 being taken to Gaza as hostages. Hamas militants in Gaza have launched rockets every day since, aiming at cities across Israel.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir last week announced plans to arm civilian security teams in towns near the country’s border.
"Every city resident will be able to get an armament license," he said. "We are facing operation Guardian of the Walls 2, so we will be ensuring that we are prepared, with guns on every street corner," he added.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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