IDF Women

Captain Ella trades desk for the field as IDF's new Arab spokesperson

Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, aka ‘Captain Ella,’ was recently named as the next army spokesperson for the Arab world

Head of the Arabic media desk at the IDF Spokesperson Unit Major "Captain" Ella Waweya; highest ranked Arab Muslim IDF soldier. 20.7.2024.Premium
 There is a high demand for combat roles among women in the November-December 2023 draft

Women's integration into IDF 'disaster': Rabbis send letter to Netanyahu demanding intervention

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrives to a conference of the Israeli newspaper Makor Rishon in Jerusalem, December 25, 2025

Smotrich doubles down on refusal to enlist daughter, claims IDF is 'no place for women'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (RZP) speaks at a Religious Zionist Party press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem on February 16, 2026.

Finance Minister Smotrich says he won't educate his daughter to enlist in the IDF


Supermajority of Israeli Arabs support re-establishing Joint List for Knesset elections, poll shows

A new poll by ArPanel reveals strong backing among Israeli Arabs for a unified Joint List, with 82% in favor and a clear preference for new candidates in the upcoming Knesset election.

Arab MK Ayman Odeh (at the plenum) and MK Ahmad Tibi (in the foreground) attend a Hadash-Ta'al faction meeting at the Knesset, February 2, 2026.

A new IDF face in Arabic exposes tensions in the Arab world - opinion

Who is expected to replace Col. Avichay Adraee? His deputy, Maj. Ella Wawiya, known in the Arab world as “Captain Ella.”

IDF's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee poses for a picture at the Foreign Ministry, in Jerusalem, September 6, 2017

Israel's 'Captain Ella,' highest-ranking Muslim officer, named IDF's new Arabic spokeswoman

Major Ella Waweya, known as "Captain Ella," will replace Col. Avichay Adraee as the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, taking charge of Arabic outreach across platforms.

Maj. Ella Waweya, the new Arabic language spokesperson, pictured on July 7, 2024.

Inside the IDF’s female field intelligence unit spying deep inside Syria – exclusive

Commander hints that the IDF is not leaving Syria any time soon, despite US-sponsored talks

ISRAELI/SYRIAN border fence near IDF Position 720 at the Israel-Syria-Jordan tri-border.

The women shaping Israel's front line strategy against Iran: Inside the IDF's war bunker

From Yemen to Tehran, these lieutenant-colonels lead critical operations while balancing family life and military duty.

 IDF's women Operational Hummer Driving Instructors seen at a gas station in the northern town of Katsrin, Golan Heights on February 8, 2024.

Wounded IDF soldiers: ‘At this home, we choose life’

Capt. (res.) Liam Spielman and St.-Sgt. Noa Cohen, wounded while fighting for the State of Israel, discuss the importance of Beit Halochem

 (L) STAFF SGT. NOA COHEN, 21, was wounded on Oct. 7, 2023.

Knesset c'mtee to discuss female soldiers' rights, haredi IDF integration

The session comes as the coalition moves forward with legislation that would regulate exemptions for haredi yeshiva students from mandatory military service.

 Female combat paramedic soldiers, September 24, 2024.

As war continues, it's time to empower Israeli women - opinion

A call for action in times of crisis: we must ensure Israeli women are given the tools to succeed and are empowered to lead.

Female combat soldiers in the mixed-gender Caracal Battalion train in urban warfare.

Katz confirms Iron Beam defense laser to be operational within several months

The Iron Beam is a ground-based high-power laser air defense system designed to counter short- to mid-range aerial threats, including rockets and mortars.

 An Israeli-made laser system, which aims to intercept incendiary balloons launched by Palestinians across the frontier from the Gaza Strip, is presented to the media, in southern Israel, near the Israel-Gaza border August 30, 2020.

IDF reservist indicted for sexual offenses against female soldier – report

The indictment alleges that he touched the soldier and showed her explicit photos of himself, then on a subsequent drive, committed unspecified indecent acts while she sat crying, KAN reported.

 Sexual harassment dictionary snip; illustrative