Armed Soldier, Civilian Halt Jerusalem Terror Attack Killing Six

In recent terror attacks in Israel, armed civilians alongside soldiers played a pivotal role in neutralizing Hamas terrorists and preventing greater casualties. At Kibbutz Magen near the Gaza border, a civilian security team successfully repelled waves of Hamas militants during the October 7 attack, compensating for the Israel Defense Forces' failure to protect the community. In Jerusalem's Ramot Junction, an off-duty soldier from the ultra-Orthodox Hasmonean Brigade and a civilian yeshiva student carrying a licensed firearm stopped a deadly shooting attack that killed six and wounded many others. This incident highlights the recent shift in Israeli policy toward expanding firearm licenses for civilians, a move accelerated after the October 2023 Hamas attacks. U.S. gun rights advocates praised the quick civilian response as a validation of the right to self-defense and criticized gun prohibitionists for creating defenseless victims. Israeli leaders continue to emphasize their determination to combat terror across multiple fronts, underscoring the strategic importance of armed civilians in national security.