Advice from the police minister
Israel wants to give weapons to thousands of volunteers
October 10, 2023, 3:07 p.m
Civilians in the border region are taken by surprise by Hamas’ major attack, as is the army, which is initially unable to help many. Israel’s police minister now wants to equip thousands of volunteers in the area with weapons – and no longer confiscate weapons if they are used to kill “terrorists”.
After the major attack by the Islamist Hamas, Israel’s right-wing extremist police minister wants to equip thousands of volunteers with assault rifles in the border area with the Gaza Strip. Itamar Ben Gvir said on the X platform that he had ordered the purchase of more than 10,000 weapons. 4,000 assault rifles should immediately be distributed to well-trained volunteers in towns near the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and in mixed cities with Jewish and Muslim populations.
“Thanks to my reform in the Ministry of National Security, citizens who neutralize terrorists will no longer be deprived of their weapons,” Ben Gvir also wrote. “Too many heroes who killed menacing terrorists have had their weapons taken away. Citizens who defend themselves deserve an award. Not confiscation.”
Hundreds of terrorists crossed the border into Israel on Saturday on behalf of the Gaza Strip’s ruling Hamas in a surprise attack, surprising both the local army and civilians, who were largely left to fend for themselves. Many were unable to defend themselves and were murdered in cold blood. Around 900 people, men, women and children, were killed in the attacks and a massacre among participants at a music festival.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, more than 2,600 people were injured. Israel responded with airstrikes in the Gaza Strip that killed 788 people, including more than 140 children and 120 women, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. More than 4,100 people were injured in the air raids.
Attack plans on Ben-Gvir
Israel’s domestic secret service, Shin Bet, said it had thwarted Iranian plans to attack Police Minister Ben-Gvir at the end of September. Five suspects, including three Palestinians and two Arab Israelis, were arrested, the domestic secret service said. They are said to have been involved in attack plans in Israel and the West Bank on the instructions of Iran.
Two of the Palestinian suspects are said to have been commissioned by Iranian security forces to smuggle weapons into Israel and to collect information about Ben-Gvir and former MP Jehuda Glick. According to the information, communication went through a Jordanian middleman. The Israeli suspects are said to have initially focused their plans on setting cars on fire.