AVI ASHKENAZI

Avi Ashkenazi is the military correspondent for The Jerusalem Post's Hebrew-language sister publication, Maariv. He began his journalist career at Maariv in the 1990s, initially working as a reporter on the northern border. For 11 years, Ashkenazi headed Maariv's crime news desk and was a correspondent for the Associated Press. From 2014 to 2019, he served as senior police and crime reporter for the Walla news site, as well as being a regular commentator on TV and radio. He has an MA in Middle Eastern studies from Tel Aviv University and serves regularly in the IDF reserves.



 British-Israeli former hostage Emily Damari poses for a photo with her mother, Mandy, after being released from Gaza where she was held since the deadly October 7 2023 attack by Hamas, at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on January 21, 2025.

'Shouts of joy’: Emily Damari reacts to death of former Gaza captor Hazem Naim

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir in discussions with general staff officials to approve Gaza takeover plan, August 13, 2025.

'We will reach them too': IDF chief says no Hamas leader is out of Israel's reach

 Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the commander of the northern Gaza brigade, and alleged replacement for Hamas military leader Mohammed Sinwar.

Izz al-Din al-Haddad: The next Hamas leader at the top of Israel's assassination list


Netanyahu knows gov't survival hinges on Gaza invasion, IDF source says

IDF officials estimate fighting in Gaza may continue for several months, with the military preparing by sending call-ups to some 60,000 reservists earlier this week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seen at the opening ceremony of the new Knesset museum, in Jerusalem, August 11, 2025

Four IDF soldiers injured by hand grenade explosion in southern Syria

The IDF has launched an investigation to understand why the soldiers collected the grenade instead of detonating it on-site.

 IDF soldiers operate on Mount Hermon, on the border between Israel and Syria, December 12, 2024

Israel Katz blocks reshuffle of military command in new clash with IDF chief

Sources close to Katz stated that Zamir did not consult or coordinate with him prior to the reshuffle, and therefore, the minister has decided that he will not approve the appointments.

 Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir. March 25, 2025.

IDF soldiers who defended Zikim on Oct.7 return as officers to train newest recruits

Sec.-Lt.s A., N., and Y., return to Zikim after having to stave off Hamas's brutal attack on October 7, 2023, with just six weeks of training.

Sec.-Lt. A., Sec.-Lt. N, and Sec.-Lt. Y.

Israel's eyes and ears: The IDF squadron that the entire Middle East fears

The Nachshon Squadron is the eyes and ears of the entire Israel Air Force, as it knows how to master a variety of capabilities for planning and executing any operation that requires air activity.

 IR SUPERIORITY proved the decisive factor in both the Six Day War and Israel’s 12-day war against Iran. During Operation Rising Lion, dozens of IDF fighter jets conducted waves of strikes across Iran, decimating the country’s defense systems – more than 1,500 km. from Israeli territory.

Senior Hamas commander altered appearance to hide from IDF, Arabic spox. says

A photo that shows how Izzadine Haddad, the commander of Hamas's Gaza City Brigade, changed his appearance was found in a terror tunnel under Khan Yunis's European Hospital.

 A before (R) and after (L) side-by-side showing Izzadine Haddad, Commander of Hamas's Gaza City Brigade, in a photo found which appears to show an altered appearance, July 2025.

IDF soldier hospitalized after apparently suffering self-inflicted gunshot wound

It remains unclear if the event was an attempted suicide or an accident.

 IDF soldiers operate in Gaza's Beit Hanun, July 2025; illustrative.

IDF pilots used excess munitions from Iran strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza

The air force reported that pilots who were sent on the first day of the operation in Iran suggested dropping excess munitions on targets in Gaza.

Israel Air Force fighter jets on their way to the waves of strikes in Iran

'Killed in their sleep': Inside Operation Narnia, Israel's strikes on Iran's nuclear scientists

In a striking twist, the operation targeting Iran’s nuclear scientists is known as "Narnia" in Israel, a name that reflects the operation’s improbable nature.

Israel’s Mossad operation to eliminate Iranian’s top nuclear scientists is named “Operation Narnia.”

Security forces shut down navigation system apps using GPS amid Iranian attacks

"They mainly target metropolitan areas. We see that most of their fire is aimed at the Haifa metropolitan area, the Dan metropolitan area, and the Be'er Sheva region."

 An Israeli driver uses Waze, April 4, 2024.