In the aftermath of the unprecedented October 7 attack by Hamas, which resulted in widespread casualties and heightened insecurity in Israel, there has been a significant increase in the number of Israeli women applying for gun permits. According to data from the security ministry, over 42,000 women have applied for gun permits since the attack, with more than 18,000 approvals granted, marking a substantial rise compared to pre-war numbers.
The surge in gun permit applications has been facilitated by the loosening of gun laws under Israel’s right-wing government, particularly under the leadership of far-right security minister Itamar Ben Gvir. This shift has enabled more than 15,000 women civilians in Israel and the occupied West Bank to own firearms, with approximately 10,000 enrolled in mandatory training programs.
The decision to apply for gun permits reflects a sense of vulnerability and a desire for self-defense among Israeli women in the wake of heightened security concerns. “I would have never thought of buying a weapon or getting a permit, but since October 7, things changed a little bit,” expressed political science professor Limor Gonen during a weapons handling class at a shooting range in the West Bank settlement of Ariel.
The security ministry’s data also highlights the increasing number of civilians, including women, obtaining weapons for self-defense purposes. Ben Gvir’s commitment to reforming firearms legislation has expedited the process for obtaining gun licenses, with hundreds of permits being cleared daily in the aftermath of the Hamas attack.
While the surge in gun ownership has been welcomed by some as a means of enhancing self-defense capacity, it has also drawn criticism from feminist groups. The Gun Free Kitchen Tables Coalition, an Israeli initiative founded by feminist activists, has condemned the civilian arms race, citing concerns about increased violence and murder resulting from widespread gun ownership.
Despite the divisive opinions surrounding the surge in gun permits, many Israeli women like community manager Yahel Reznik and English teacher Corine Nissim have embraced gun ownership as a means of feeling safer and more empowered in the face of heightened security threats.
Sources By Agencies
