12/16/2023–|Last updated: 12/16/202302:28 PM (Mecca time)
The American New York Times reported that more than a quarter of a million Israelis have applied for licenses to carry weapons since last October 7, and referred to the warning of a former Israeli security official that Tel Aviv will pay a “heavy price” for the spread of personal weapons.
The newspaper quoted former Director General of the Israeli Ministry of National Security, Tomer Lotan, as saying that the Israeli government issued 13,000 licenses to carry firearms in the entire year of 2022, and also issued 23,000 licenses this year until last October 7.
Lotan added that after the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation on October 7, 26,000 new licenses to carry weapons were approved in less than 8 weeks (until late November), while another 44,000 Israelis received “conditional approval.” “.
He warned that Israel would pay a “heavy price” for the proliferation of special weapons, as it would witness more shooting incidents, suicides, and daily conflicts that escalate into armed conflicts.
License within 20 seconds
The former security official pointed out that before the war, interviews to obtain firearms licenses were conducted in person and lasted about 20 minutes, and 20 to 30% of applicants were rejected.
After the war, the process became “rushed,” according to the New York Times, which quoted a settler named Zvika Aran as saying that the interview conducted with him to obtain a weapons license took place over a phone call lasting only 20 seconds.
During the past weeks, many pictures have invaded social media platforms and media sites, showing Israeli settlers of all ages wandering the streets of the occupied territories, carrying weapons, while carrying out their normal activities.
Palestinians in the West Bank say they fear the spread of more weapons into the hands of extremist Israeli settlers at a time when their violence against Palestinians is escalating, especially after the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation.
For 71 days, the occupation army has launched an aggression against the Gaza Strip, which has left, to date, about 19,000 martyrs and 50,000 injured, in addition to massive destruction in residential neighborhoods, infrastructure, and hospitals.
In conjunction with the war on Gaza, the occupation army escalated its campaign of raids and arrests in cities and towns in the West Bank, with an increase in attacks by settlers on Palestinians in light of widespread international and Arab condemnation.
