Beersheba Residents Granted Eligibility for Personal Gun Licenses Under Expanded Reform

The southern Israeli city of Beersheba has been added to the growing list of municipalities whose residents are eligible to apply for personal firearm licenses. Tens of thousands of Beersheba residents can now submit applications, provided they meet the legal criteria and conditions. This move follows similar eligibility expansions in cities such as Hadera and Rosh HaAyin, and joins other large cities like Jerusalem, Netanya, and Ashdod, where certain neighborhoods have already been recognized as eligible areas.

Since the gun reform began, over 280,000 citizens across more than 200 communities have been granted personal gun licenses. The reform has seen a rapid increase in recognized eligible localities, from just six in 2021 to 126 so far in 2026. This decision was made after thorough professional evaluations by the Israel Police, the Firearms Licensing and Control Department, and the National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Minister Ben-Gvir praised the expansion, calling it a continuation of the "gun revolution" and emphasizing the fundamental right of Israeli citizens to protect themselves and their families. He stated, "My policy is clear: guns in the right hands save lives," and pledged to continue broadening the reform to include more cities, towns, and neighborhoods to enhance public safety and self-defense capabilities.