IDF Recovers Firearms and Munitions in First Days of Amnesty Campaign
The Israel Defense Forces recovered thousands of ammunition rounds, dozens of weapons, and explosives during the first two days of a nationwide amnesty campaign allowing troops to return military gear anonymously.
During the first two days of the Israel Defense Forces' equipment retrieval operation, reservists and regular soldiers returned substantial quantities of military gear, including 34 firearms, thousands of ammunition rounds, and explosives. The campaign, led by the Technological and Logistics Directorate, began on Sunday and is scheduled to run through the 12th of the month. Authorities have established 63 collection points across the country, allowing individuals to return missing gear anonymously and without fear of criminal prosecution.
Colonel Moshe Schwartz, head of the Acceleration Department at the Logistics Directorate, explained that the initiative stemmed from numerous requests originating from the field and reserve units. "We obtained special legal approval ensuring that anyone who returns equipment is not required to identify themselves, which exempts them from criminal liability for unauthorized possession of weapons and munitions," Schwartz stated.
According to military estimates, significant amounts of military hardware have accumulated in private hands over the past three years of active combat, ranging from items taken unintentionally to weapons seized from terrorists during the October 7 attacks. The returned cache so far includes approximately 28,500 rounds of ammunition, 250 grenades of various types, 300 demolition and explosive items, 200 tactical vests and helmets, 300 weapon accessories, 50 medical equipment items, 2,000 uniform and textile pieces, and a general-purpose machine gun whose origin is currently under investigation.
Military officials noted that the public response during the initial 48 hours has already surpassed the turnout recorded during a similar nationwide campaign conducted in 2017. The public hotline, accessible via the *6008 short code, has received a high volume of inquiries from citizens seeking to return unsecured weaponry and explosives before they pose a hazard to residential neighborhoods.
