Israel’s dogs of war: The IDF’s four-legged fighting force that’s being deployed in some of Gaza’s most dangerous territory to hunt down Hamas – and has already suffered fatalities fighting terrorists

Israel has one of the most sophisticated armies in the world, with an arsenal of modern weapons, thousands of armed vehicles and hundreds of thousands of highly trained soldiers.

But among the most valued units in its ranks is a four-legged fighting force which has already helped to eliminate Hamas terrorists, and is being deployed as part of the Israeli Defence Forces’ intense ground offensive in Gaza.

The dogs, who are part of the Oketz unit, each have specific jobs, with some trained to sniff out explosives, some to locate hidden threats and tunnel entrances, and others to track down and maul terrorists.

The highly-trained Belgian Malinois have been utilised by Israel’s army for years – and now their skills are being deployed on the streets of Gaza and in Hamas’s  subterranean tunnels.

As the IDF continues to forge a path through the heart of Gaza City in their operation to root out Hamas, MailOnline takes a look at the crack canine division which stands out as one of the most versatile and feared units on the battlefield.

Israel’s Defence Forces have a crack canine unit called Oketz, meaning ‘Sting’ in Hebrew

The dog unit operates alongside other groups of fighters. ‘Dogs can be a man’s best friend – and they can be a terrorist’s worst enemy,’ a journalist who joined the unit for a day said

Raised and trained by the unit from pups, only the toughest canine recruits make it through to become specialised fighting dogs

October 7

As Hamas terrorists launched their surprise invasion of southern Israel on October 7, some military dog handlers only realised they were under attack when they were awoken by air raid sirens.

As news came through that Hamas had infiltrated the country, the unit scrambled dogs and handlers who were still in training to the south, where kibbutzim were under heavy bombardment and being stormed by Hamas fighters.

Tragically, one brave dog was killed by Hamas as he saved the lives of several commandoes, alerting them to the terrorists’ hiding place on October 7.

Nero, one of the Oketz dogs which had joined Naval Commando 13 to hunt down Hamas infiltrators, was killed while tracking down the terrorists. 

‘A dog who was with one of our men went in to comb a house,’ a commander, known only as Lieutenant Colonel A, told Israel Hayom. 

‘He revealed the location of two terrorists, took a burst of gunfire from them, and was killed. 

‘That’s how the men in the force realized that there were terrorists in the house, and human lives were saved. 

An Israeli army soldier part of a K-9 unit takes part in a drill at an army urban warfare training facility simulating Gaza City back in January

‘The troops fired at the terrorists and brought in engineering machinery that brought the house down on them. 

‘Lots of commanders from Naval Commando 13 contacted me and told me that the dog had saved their lives.’

Like their human comrades, any dog in the unit killed in the line of duty is entitled to a full military funeral.

In another case, Oketz forces joined up with the Duvdevan commando unit to scour open territory in the Be’ersheva area.

It managed to locate a terrorist just a few dozen metres ahead of its unit who had set up an ambush for the force in a grove of bushes. 

The dog bit the terrorist, the commander said, allowing the Duvdevan force to arrest him. 

Following the arrest, he added, ‘it turned out that he was a terrorist from Hamas’s underground system, and in his interrogation he gave very important information for the continuation of the fighting.’ 

Beneath Gaza sprawls a 300 mile-long network of tunnels that criss-cross deep underground in all directions (file image)

Tunnel fighting

A 300 mile-long network of tunnels sprawls beneath Gaza, forming an entire subterranean world that is so vast it has been described as Hamas’s ‘metro system’. 

Concealed beneath hospitals, mosques, schools and homes, the network offers cover to Hamas soldiers and their cache of rockets.

Thought to be heavily booby-trapped, the concrete-enforced passages are narrow and complex in some areas, making them one of the most deadly terrains for soldiers to enter.

In some areas, troops are unable to stand up or see in front of themselves in the dark lairs.

In a video shared by IDF spokesman Ofir Gendelman, one of the unit’s canines can be seen racing through a dark tunnel network much like those under Gaza

This means that dogs – which are guided by their noses and agile enough to quickly navigate the complicated networks – are a useful weapon. 

In a video shared by IDF spokesman Ofir Gendelman, one of the unit’s canines can be seen racing through a dark tunnel network much like those under Gaza.

A bodycam attached to the animal follows it through the dimly-lit passages as it hunts down its prey. 

The animal locates a man dressed as a Hamas terrorist, who it attacks and neutralises as the enemy target screams in terror, showing how useful the animals can be in supporting their human counterparts in Gaza.

The dogs are highly-trained before deployment, including on agility courses and in simulated battlegrounds

Origins of Oketz 

The name ‘Oketz,’ meaning ‘Sting’ in Hebrew, aptly describes the unit’s swift and decisive actions, using highly-trained dogs to locate, track down and clear Hamas’ clandestine tunnel network, rounding up weapons caches and bomb-making facilities in the process. 

Established in 1974 on the Sirkin Base in central Israel close to the West Bank, the unit has evolved into a critical component of the IDF, contributing to counter-terrorism, search and rescue, and various specialised missions over the years.

The origins of Oketz can be traced back to the tumultuous period of the early 1970s when Israel faced a wave of terrorist attacks. 

In response to the evolving security challenges, Oketz was officially formed with just 11 soldiers. 

During the 1970s and 1980s, the unit operated in utmost secrecy, participating in numerous covert missions. It wasn’t until 1988, following a successful operation in Lebanon, that Oketz was revealed to the public. 

The unit now operates across all regions of Israel, adapting to diverse terrains and scenarios, with mission objectives that include counter-terrorism, search and rescue, as well as specific tasks like locating weapons and detecting explosives.

Selection process and intense training

Joining Oketz is a voluntary choice for soldiers, and the selection process is rigorous.

To qualify for Oketz, soldiers – both men and women – must first draft into specific infantry units where they may be considered for selection. 

Women aspiring to join Oketz do so through the co-ed Caracal Battalion, undergoing joint tryouts with male counterparts. 

The IDF handpicks the best candidates through rigorous tryouts, with successful soldiers being subjected to an additional gruelling four-day selection process. 

The animals go through rigorous training to serve in the Israel Defence Forces’ Oketz unit

These tryouts serve as a crucible, identifying the most capable men and women who go on to form the exceptional teams within Oketz.  

Once selected, each soldier is paired with their own service dog, and together they undergo specialised training to develop specific skills as determined by their commanding officers, whether it be attack, search and rescue, or explosive detection. 

A distinctive feature of the Oketz Unit is the deep connection between the soldier and their assigned dog. 

This relationship is cultivated from the early stages of training, and soldiers spend significant time bonding with their canine partners. 

The dogs are trained from puppies for specific roles in the crack unit. Some at this stage are deemed unsuitable, depending on their temperments

However, soldiers drafted into Oketz have to ensure that they are able to emotionally separate themselves from their four-legged partners when necessary. 

Raised and trained by the unit from pups, only the toughest canine recruits make it through to become specialised fighting dogs.

‘The initial training develops the dogs’ instincts, discipline and aggressiveness so they won’t balk in fear,’ an anonymous trainer told the Jerusalem Post.

‘Only the best are selected at this stage. A dog that’s too apathetic, too sensitive to food or tends to chase cats, doesn’t reach the unit. It must be brave and have exceptional attributes. 

‘Its instincts are developed through biting games with rags or other objects, playing ball and lots of walks.’

Each dogs’ job depends on the individual skills of each animal, he said.

‘Explosives detection dogs must be extremely disciplined and quiet; search and rescue canines need a highly developed sense of smell; and attack dogs require strength and fearlessness.’ 

As a journalist who joined the Oketz unit for exercises in 2018 observed: ‘Dogs can be a man’s best friend – and they can be a terrorist’s worst enemy.’ 

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