Israel's defense establishment on Thursday began distributing weaponry and protective equipment to emergency standby squads across the country, the IDF and Defense Ministry announced in a joint statement.
The program was launched in Gaza border communities on Thursday morning, with standby squads from 12 moshavim and kibbutzim near the Strip receiving M-16 rifles and protective gear from the IDF's Southern Command.
As part of the plan, the IDF will arm some 12 standby squads per week starting near the Gaza border, before expanding to the rest of Israel.
Israel's Ministry of Defense highlighted the distribution of equipment and rifles to 12 of the security response teams for various Israeli communities near the Gaza border; part of a larger program to strengthen these areas which they need when people return from being evacuated… pic.twitter.com/RWEmIpDtcR
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) December 7, 2023
In their statement, the IDF and Defense Ministry noted that the program to properly arm the emergency standby squads will aid in creating better circumstances for the return of southern Israelis to their homes, following their evacuation in the wake of the October 7 massacre and subsequent war on Hamas in Gaza.
The gear distributed by the Southern Command included ceramic vests and helmets. Plans are also in place to distribute more logistical and medical equipment to the standby squads, it was noted.
Standby squads set for massive expansion in wake of October 7
In October, Israel Police announced it would expand the use of emergency standby squads to cities across the country.
As part of the expansion, Israel Police will set up some 347 new standby squads, made up of 13,200 police volunteers.