Southern Command

Hamas uses teens, disabled civilians for border reconaissance as IDF prepares for new Gaza ops.

Hamas has been exploiting Gazans in order to gather information on troop activities, response times, and blind spots for infiltration and attacks.

|ByAMIR BOHBOT
download high resolution download low resolution add to lightbox file name: F260602ARK06.JPG File Size: 3786 KB caption (en): Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli drone strike in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, June 2, 2026.
The Israeli army near the border fence with Gaza, southern Israel. February 09, 2026.

WATCH: IDF kills terrorists across Gaza Strip in two separate incidents

The announcement comes after the military announced on Friday three additional incidents involving IDF soldiers engaging Gaza terrorists.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Assaf Shmuelovich, the "Impersonating officer" charged for infiltrating the Southern Command on October 7.

‘Fake officer’ who fought on October 7 acquitted by reason of insanity

Beersheba District Court found that Assaf Shmuelevitz carried out the conduct attributed to him, but was in a psychotic state at the time, and bears no criminal responsibility.

|BySARAH BEN-NUN
Israeli soldiers in a tunnel where, according to Israel's military, Hamas militants held the body of Israeli officer Hadar Goldin, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, December 8, 2025.

IDF soldiers find, demolish approx. five kilometers of tunnels in southern Gaza

The tunnels crossed into IDF-controlled areas east of the yellow line, with the IDF attacking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon later on Thursday.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Border Police officer killed by accidental IDF gunfire, investigation underway

Meanwhile, the IDF killed a terrorist trying to throw explosive devices in the West Bank, authorities arrested a Palestinian for inciting pro-Hamas violence, and the Gaza Division gained a new head.

FEBRUARY 22, 2026ByJAMES GENN
Policeman Uri Mektaev, 18, killed at his home, February 22, 2026.

'Impersonating officer' Assaf Shmuelovitz to serve sentence in psychiatric hospital

The defendant was charged with serious espionage, transmitting information, entering a secret location, and obtaining things by fraud after infiltrating Southern Command headquarters on October 7.

FEBRUARY 19, 2026ByARIELLA ROITMAN
Assaf Shmuelovich, the "Impersonating officer" charged for infiltrating the Southern Command on October 7.