Unbelievable Neglect: Egyptian Border Lookouts Remain Unarmed Nearly Two Years After October 7

Female lookouts serving in the Paran Brigade along the Egyptian border have voiced serious concerns, reporting that they still have not been issued personal weapons, a commitment made by Israeli military leadership in the wake of the October 7, 2023, massacre. The soldiers, positioned just meters from the border, emphasized their current inability to defend themselves, stating, "Right now we are simply helpless."

This critical failure to arm front-line personnel comes despite a clear operational review released by the military's Ground Forces Command a year and two months into the Gaza war, which pledged to arm all lookouts in border areas. Yet, nearly two years since the massive security failure that led to the October 7 atrocities, the promise remains a hollow assurance.

One lookout described the initial guarantee: "After October 7, we were promised weapons the moment we arrived at our post." However, she continued, "We’ve been here for months, but we still haven’t received them, only strange excuses like there’s no ‘empty chamber indicator’ available in the brigade." An empty chamber indicator is a small plastic safety device essential for indicating an unloaded weapon. The soldier added that repeated appeals through official channels have been fruitless, forcing the unit to come forward publicly "to protect ourselves and ensure history doesn’t repeat itself."

Another soldier highlighted the absurdity and danger of the current security setup. She explained that a single commander in the operations room, who is armed, cannot possibly defend the entire command center in the event of an attack. Furthermore, she noted the vulnerability of their residential areas: "Our living quarters are at the entrance to the outpost, so anyone outside the operations room has no way to protect herself."

In response to the report, the military spokesperson acknowledged the situation while outlining steps for resolution. The spokesperson asserted, "All command staff at the outpost carry personal weapons, and a commander in the operations room is armed at all times." Crucially, the statement noted that the process to arm the lookouts is finally set to begin: "Next month, company-level training exercises will begin, during which the lookouts will undergo certification and firing range training. At the conclusion of this process, they will be eligible to sign out personal weapons." The spokesperson added that the next cycle of lookouts entering the unit will be issued weapons immediately upon completing their training, but this does little for the personnel currently serving unarmed.