Israel delivers 20,000 rifles to 'alert squad' militias

Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant (L) speaks with a soldier as he makes observation on the area with Israeli army near Gaza fence in Israel on 15 October 2023 [Israeli Ministry of Defense/Anadolu Agency]

The Israeli Army’s Home Front Command yesterday announced that it will hand over 20,000 rifles to so-called “alert teams” – civilian militias, according to directives issued by Defence Minister Yoav Galant.

So far, 1,000 members of these militias have been armed.

Members of these militias must collaborate with police forces and border guards in mixed Jewish-Arab cities, with Israel claiming that the aim of their presence is to provide a rapid response to the infiltration of armed individuals into Israel, both near the border and within the country, in order to enhance the residents’ sense of personal security.

Critics fear the arms will be used against Palestinian communities, with the potential for far-right activities to take the law in to their own hands with impunity.

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