"It's not uncommon to come across people with guns on the street. This belongs to the territory of Israel. "In this country, guns are part of everyday life, not just military or security personnel. So says Amitai Turkel, a student educated in Jerusalem. "But in Israel, it's a different story. Military training is common here because the security situation in the country requires everyone to be able to defend themselves. So, seeing a gun doesn't mean being on guard, it's a norm. "Often, when you see someone with a firearm, you can tell that they might be a member of the military, a security officer or someone similar to them. ”
Originally, Israel's gun policy was quite strict, with only a few exceptions, that is, only Israeli citizens who had received ** training or worked in security jobs could use firearms, and the general population without training, including most citizens who were exempted from military service, did not meet this condition.
However, Hamas's attack on Israel on 7 October had a profound impact on the Israeli population's perception of security.
Israel** has relaxed the terms of gun ownership and increased the speed and process of approval. In the face of increasing security threats, the demand for guns has increased dramatically. Israel's minister noted that in the two months since the attack, the ministry has received more than 260,000 applications for new firearms licenses, and the number of approvals is as high as 3,000 per day. The implementation of the new rules has sparked widespread concern in society, with some fearing that it could lead to gun abuse and social safety issues. Prior to the attacks, the number of permits authorized per day was 100.
On the main streets of Israel, there are Israeli people holding ** everywhere. In the sun, the muzzle of the gun shone with an icy glow, and passers-by hurried by, looking vigilant. Foreign journalists captured this series of scenes through their cameras.
There was a man in Tel Aviv who went to walk his dog with an assault rifle on his back.
The man who was talking to friends in Habima Square in Tel Aviv was carrying an assault rifle.
There is a woman at Tel Aviv station with an assault rifle and other means of transport hanging from her car.
In Tel Aviv, Israel, a man armed with an assault rifle with a balloon walks past a passenger inside a coffee shop.
In Tel Aviv's promenade, a woman rides an electric scooter and carries an assault rifle.
Tel Aviv is a man with a rifle on his body and is sitting in a restaurant with his friends.
On Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, there is a woman carrying an assault rifle on her back.
In Tel Aviv's seaside corridor, a man with a gun hanging from his waist walks leisurely.
A man carries a rifle while performing a prayer service on the west wall of the ancient city of Jerusalem.
A man armed with a rifle strolls through the streets of Jerusalem with his two children.
In the bar of the Mahani Yehuda Market in Jerusalem, a man holds an assault rifle.
A male while driving an electric scooter carried **.
Grab a rifle and go shopping at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem.