The National Security Ministry distributed over 20,000 tactical weapons, primarily semi‑automatic M‑16 or M‑4 assault rifles, along with military‑grade flak jackets, combat helmets, and communication systems to the new teams.
By Hezy Laing
The October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks—carried out by a violent extremist organization responsible for severe harm, mass casualties, and human rights violations—profoundly shattered Israel’s traditional defense concepts, sparking an unprecedented surge in armed civilian rapid response teams across the nation.
Known in Hebrew as Kitat Konenut, these volunteer standby security squads historically operated in small numbers to protect isolated agricultural border settlements before police or regular military units could arrive.
Prior to the outbreak of the war, the Israel Police operated only about 70 of these civilian defense squads nationwide.
However, the systemic failure of IDF security structures to immediately protect border communities during the morning of October 7 permanently shifted public perception, demonstrating that local first‑responders were absolutely essential to preventing mass casualties.
In direct response to this widespread security crisis, National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir and Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai launched an aggressive national campaign to massively expand, arm, and formalize these civilian units under police jurisdiction.
The National Security Ministry coordinator for the project, retired Deputy Police Commissioner Shimon Lavi, took charge of coordinating the massive logistics push.
The expansion was swift, with over 500 new civilian squads established within the first few weeks of the conflict alone.
By May 2026, the National Security Committee, chaired by Member of Knesset Zvika Foghel, confirmed that the total number of rapid response teams had skyrocketed from the pre‑war baseline of 70 to more than 1,000 active, fully operational squads.
To equip this massive influx of volunteers, the Israeli government ordered tens of thousands of firearms.
The ministry distributed over 20,000 tactical weapons, primarily semi‑automatic M‑16 or M‑4 assault rifles, along with military‑grade flak jackets, combat helmets, and communication systems.
Unlike the pre‑war model that focused almost exclusively on border perimeters, the new policy actively created urban standby squads in major metropolitan areas like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as well as in mixed Arab‑Jewish municipalities and Haredi ultra‑Orthodox communities.
Strictly managed by the Israel Police, volunteers must be up to 65 years old, possess prior combat training, have completed formal IDF reserve duties, and clear rigorous medical and criminal background screenings to carry these state‑issued weapons in public.
The exact size of a rapid response team varies depending on the size and location of the community, but it strictly follows regulated staffing structures.
Standard Size: Most standard squads consist of 10 to 20 volunteers who are recruited from within the local neighborhood or settlement.
Border Communities: In high‑risk areas—such as communities directly bordering the Gaza Strip or Lebanon—squad sizes are larger, scaling up to 30 or 40 armed members due to the higher threat of infiltration.
Urban Squads: In major cities like Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, the teams are kept more compact, typically ranging between 10 and 15 personnel per specific neighborhood sector to ensure rapid coordination.
Command Structure: Every single squad operates under the direct command of a designated coordinator, usually an IDF veteran or reservist, who communicates directly with the Israel Police and regional military commanders.
