Israeli government distributes thousands of rifles to citizens near Gaza, Lebanon borders

The Israeli government is distributing roughly 10,000 rifles to Israeli citizens living in towns near its northern and southern borders, officials announced Monday.

The Israeli government is distributing roughly 10,000 rifles to Israeli citizens living in towns near its northern and southern borders, officials announced Monday.

Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir purchased the rifles early last week and has expedited the process for "hundreds of thousands" of Israelis to be approved to carry firearms.

"I call on everyone who is eligible [to get] a life-saving weapon," he said in a statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The 10,000 rifles are being distributed to civilian security teams, some of which were able to fight off Hamas terrorists last week using only pistols. Members of at least one team told the Times of Israel that the Israeli Defense Forces had taken their rifles sometime prior to the Hamas assault.