Following decision of Ben Gvir and Shabtai, alert squads expanded throughout Israel

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai announced on Monday the expansion of civilian alert squads throughout the country, including in municipal areas.

The announcement was made following the decision to purchase rifles for rural alert squads last week.

During the Oct. 7 attacks, civilian members of alert squads in the southern communities found themselves facing heavily armed Hamas terrorists, while they were only with handguns.

This is because Israeli law does not allow civilians to own rifles, only handguns.

However, with the military presence in the area having been proven inadequate to confront the surprise Hamas attack, a decision was made to allow members of alert squads to have rifles.

The decision to expand the alert squads to municipal areas will result in the creation of some 347 new alert squads, to be placed under the supervision and authority of the Israel Police. Members will be considered police volunteers.

Previously, alert squads only existed in proximity to Israel’s borders, or in Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria.

Alert squads along the border are operated by Israel Defense Forces' Home Front Command.

Following the announcement, Ben Gvir said, “The massacre in the south shows how important the alert squads are, and they saved entire communities. So, I am pleased to expand the project to the entire country in parallel with our policy to expand the possibility of hundreds of thousands of civilians carrying weapons.”

There has been a rush of Israeli civilians at the IDF Home Front Command, which is responsible for screening and training the volunteers.

In order to be accepted as a volunteer, one must be between the ages of 21-64, have completed military service but be exempt from reserve duty. After the age of 45, most Israelis are exempt from reserve duty.

Attorney Omer Shalomovich told Ynet news, “I was discharged [from reserve duty] at 51 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and now I’ve decided to volunteer alongside others from my community.”

Ramat Hanegev Mayor Eran Doron welcomed the announcement of the purchase of rifles for alert squads and said that such squads are a necessity in the southern border area.

“Arm the alert squads and let us defend ourselves with all our force. The rationale is clear: We’ve seen that armed-and-ready alert squads saved entire communities in the Gaza border,” the mayor said. “In Ramat Negev, we have about 15 communities, some adjacent to the fence, which are facing solid threats and warnings. I can't wait around for the police and the army.”

Inbal Lasri from Moshav Pri Gan described how the moshav [agricultural settlement] was saved during the attacks of Oct. 7.

“We had an infiltration, but Shlomit’s alert squad came and protected us with their lives,” she told Ynet. “They were killed but saved us. The terrorists got into two houses. Everyone who’s here was saved.”

One resident from Ashkelon told N12 news that residents in his neighborhood who hold gun permits had formed a WhatsApp group to act as their own alert squad in the days after the attack.

Besides the large number of volunteers for alert squads, N12 reported a significant increase in the number of people heading to shooting ranges throughout the country.