West Bank, MINA – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has expanded firearm license eligibility to residents of 11 Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, prompting condemnation from Hamas amid growing concerns over settler violence against Palestinians.
According to Israel’s Channel 14, the decision adds 11 settlements and outposts in the northern West Bank to the list of locations whose residents are eligible to apply for firearm permits. The measure is intended to strengthen security preparedness in the settlements by allowing qualifying residents to seek licenses to carry firearms.
Hamas condemned the decision in a statement issued Thursday, describing it as an “explicit call for killing and displacement” of Palestinians. The movement warned that increasing settlers’ access to firearms could intensify attacks against Palestinian communities across the occupied territory.
Hamas accused the Israeli government of encouraging policies that enable violence against Palestinian civilians and said the decision provided “additional cover for the commission of further crimes against the citizens, their land, and their property.”
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The movement also alleged that Israeli authorities were cooperating with settler groups targeting Palestinians and their property. It warned that the expanded eligibility for firearm permits could lead to further confrontations across the West Bank.
The decision comes amid continued reports of settler attacks on Palestinian villages, agricultural land, vehicles, and property, particularly in areas near Israeli settlements and outposts.
Since Ben-Gvir took office in late 2022, he has pursued measures to expand access to firearms among eligible Israelis, including residents of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, settlers carried out 647 attacks across the West Bank in September 2026, resulting in the deaths of three Palestinians, according to figures cited in the report.
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Human rights organizations and international bodies have raised concerns about settler violence and called for perpetrators to be held accountable. The United Nations has also documented incidents in which attacks by settlers reportedly occurred in the presence of Israeli forces or without effective intervention.
The expansion of firearm license eligibility has added to Palestinian concerns about security in communities surrounding Israeli settlements. Hamas said the measure would not weaken Palestinian resistance, while warning that further access to weapons could increase the risks facing Palestinian residents.
Tensions remain high across the occupied West Bank, where Palestinian communities continue to face settler attacks, military operations, movement restrictions, and disputes over land.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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