TEL AVIV, September 1, 2025 (WAFA) – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir decided on Monday to allow approximately 100,000 additional Israelis to obtain special firearm licenses, as part of a controversial policy.

Ben-Gvir's office said in a statement: "Ben-Gvir today approved the addition of new cities to the list of towns eligible for special firearm licenses."

According to Ben-Gvir's office, approximately 230,000 new firearm licenses have been issued since the beginning of the arming policy.

Ben-Gvir launched the policy of arming Israelis, including colonists in the occupied West Bank, at the end of 2023, following the outbreak of the Israeli war of extermination in the Gaza Strip.

Colonists launch almost daily terrorist attacks, using firearms, against civilians in the occupied West Bank, forcibly displacing them and seizing their lands and property.

During the month of July, colonists carried out 466 attacks, resulting in the martyrdom of four citizens in the West Bank, and the forced displacement of the Arab al-Malihat communities in Jericho and Deir Alla in Bethlehem, comprising 50 Palestinian families consisting of 267 individuals.

They also carried out 232 acts of vandalism and theft of citizens' property, affecting vast areas of land, and resulting in the uprooting, destruction, and poisoning of 2,844 trees, including 2,647 olive trees.

K.T