Residents of Kiryat Shmona will now be eligible for private firearms licenses, following an announcement by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir during a special meeting in the city. The new policy designates the entire city, except for its industrial zone, as eligible for gun permits, aiming to bolster self-defense for those returning after mass evacuations caused by conflict near the Lebanese border.

The decision comes amid a surge in gun permit requests since the October 2023 attack in southern Israel, with the government having issued around 230,000 new licenses. While Ben Gvir asserts that increased gun ownership has improved safety, critics, including women's groups, warn of heightened risks, particularly for domestic violence victims.

Ben Gvir emphasized the importance of supporting displaced residents and highlighted recent government funding allocated to help the city recover and thrive. Despite the ceasefire, only about 60 percent of Kiryat Shmona's population has returned, and many local businesses remain closed.