A new initiative by Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, to broaden firearm licences for residents of Israeli settlements in Jerusalem has drawn strong criticism from Palestinian officials, who warn that the measure could expose Palestinian communities to heightened danger. Authorities in Jerusalem said the proposal risks fuelling an already volatile environment in the occupied city, where tensions have remained high for months. Critics argue that expanding access to weapons among settlers may further destabilise neighbourhoods where Palestinians and Israeli settlers live in close proximity.

According to officials from the Jerusalem Governorate, the policy could embolden radical settlers and encourage acts of violence against Palestinian residents. They contend that such measures contribute to an atmosphere of hostility and impunity that has intensified in recent years. Palestinian authorities say that over the past five years more than 140 Palestinians from Jerusalem have been killed in incidents tied to escalating violence and inflammatory rhetoric, with nearly half of those killed reported to be children.

The proposal has also raised concerns that arming settlers may institutionalise a form of vigilante power in parts of the city already marked by deep political tension. Reports indicate that roughly 300,000 residents living in more than forty Israeli neighbourhoods across Jerusalem could become eligible for firearm licences if the policy is implemented. Palestinian officials and advocacy groups are now calling on the international community, including organisations such as the United Nations and the European Union, to take steps aimed at ensuring protection for Palestinian civilians in the occupied city.