According to the Israeli Army Radio, there has been an 88% increase in the number of settler women who have been granted a "license to carry weapons" since the start of 2023. Nearly half of these women reside in settlements in the occupied West Bank.
According to statistics, 510 women have gotten licenses to carry weapons since the current administration led by Benjamin Netanyahu took office, as opposed to 270 women who did so during the same time period in 2022.
The spike coincides with Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's minister of security, urging Israelis to arm themselves and carry firearms outside the home.