In light of threat assessments reporting a sharp decline in concerns of a chemical attack, Israel has announced it is halting its gas mask distribution program as of Thursday, 27 Adar I 5774. According to the IDF’s Homefront Command, 63% of Israelis have gas mask kits in their homes today.

Almost all of the gas mask distribution stations shut down after they distributed 5.3 million masks. The company manufacturing the masks will continue production for another few months and those masks will remain in emergency storehouses. Three distribution centers will continue operating for the time being, including Haifa and Petach Tikvah.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)