Israel Expands Firearm License Eligibility to Beersheba Residents

The Israeli National Security Ministry announced on August 2, 2026, that residents of Beersheba are now eligible to apply for personal firearm licenses. This expansion follows a professional review by the Israel Police and the Firearms Licensing Division to determine community eligibility.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister, initiated this firearms reform in 2023. Under the program, more than 280,000 citizens have received licenses, and over 200 communities—including parts of Jerusalem, Netanya, and Ashdod—have become eligible. In 2026, the ministry added 126 additional communities to the list.

The total number of individual gun owners in Israel has nearly doubled since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, rising from 150,000 to approximately 300,000.