Israel is preparing to keep around 10,000 reservists permanently armed, according to Israeli media reports, in a move framed as a lesson drawn from the events of October 2023. The plan would allow selected reservists to store military-grade weapons and equipment at home throughout the year, reflecting deep concern within the security establishment about response times and internal readiness.

The initiative reportedly centres on a recently formed reserve division made up largely of older volunteers, many in their forties to sixties, who returned to service after retirement. Under the scheme, each reservist would be issued an assault rifle, ammunition, protective gear and a helmet, delivered directly to their homes in the occupied territories. Weapons would be kept in reinforced safes supplied by the army, enabling rapid mobilisation in the event of an emergency.

Military officials have privately acknowledged that existing forces are overstretched and ill-prepared for future scenarios without urgent financial and structural reinforcement. The decision marks a clear departure from previous policies that restricted soldiers from taking weapons home because of safety concerns. It also comes as Israel continues to absorb losses from its ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, with officials conceding that the balance of power once assumed to be unchallenged has been fundamentally shaken.