Israel issued more than 220,000 gun licenses since Oct. 7

The expansive civilian armament campaign was led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

By JNS

Israel’s National Security Ministry on Thursday issued the 222,222nd license for a personal firearm since Oct. 7, 2023, in a ceremony to Eli Tahar, the chairman of Yad Labanim, an NGO that supports bereaved families of fallen soldiers, the ministry said.

This means that the number of licensed civilian firearms in Israel has more than doubled since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel’s south, reaching a total of almost 400,000.

Before the attacks, approximately 150,000 people had licenses to carry a personal weapon, according to the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

The expansive civilian armament campaign was led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The minister was present at Thursday’s ceremony, alongside the ministry’s director-general Rafael Engel, deputy director-general for Firearms Licensing and Oversight David Weizman and representatives of the security agencies, the ministry said.

“This is a moment that fills the heart. The Tahar family gave the State of Israel what was most precious to them. The shield and the license are a small expression of our tremendous appreciation. The firearms reform allows good citizens to protect themselves and the state, and today it takes on especially profound meaning,” Ben-Gvir said in a statement.

Tahar’s son, Yossi Chai Tahar, a senior commander in the operational unit of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), was killed in action in the “Gaza Envelope” on Oct. 7, 2023.

He was named after Tahar’s brother, Col. Yossi Tahar, who was killed in action in Lebanon in 1981. Tahar’s second son, Roy Tahar, died in a motorcycle accident in 2001.

Engel said, “The Tahar family is a symbol of heroism, dedication, and love of the land. For us, it is a privilege to stand here.”

Weizman added, “An emotional and powerful moment. It is an honor and a source of pride to grant a license to a man whose contribution to the state is immeasurable.”