IDF Announces November Weapons and Equipment Return Campaign

The Israel Defense Forces announced on October 28 that it will run a nationwide campaign from November 1 to 12 to recover weapons and military equipment removed from its possession. About 65 collection points at army bases will accept the items, and people returning them will not be required to identify themselves. The announced protection from prosecution covers unlawful removal, possession or carrying of the equipment being returned. The items listed for return include weapons, night-vision devices, communications and computing equipment, protective vests and helmets, as well as other military gear. The campaign concerns returning these items to the army. In its official announcement, the IDF said: “The campaign to return weapons and military equipment is getting underway.” The army said the purpose is to prevent weapons from reaching hostile elements and to reduce the dangers of keeping military equipment in unsafe conditions. The IDF published a collection-point list organized into Northern, Central and Southern regions. It includes Camp Naftali in the north, the north gate at Tel Hashomer in the centre, and Hatzerim in the south. The scheduled collection period begins on November 1 and ends on November 12.