Oketz Unit

It was founded in 1939 as part of Haganah, and later dismantled in 1954. In 1974, a new unit was established by Yossi Labock, who was its first commander. The unit specializes in training and handling dogs for military applications. Originally, Oketz trained dogs to attack kidnappers, but training has since become more specialized, and now each dog is trained in a particular specialty. Attack dogs are trained to operate in both urban and rural areas (they were used extensively in Lebanon). Some dogs are trained to track and pursue selected targets for manhunts and to detect breaches at the Israeli border. Others are trained to search for guns and munitions, to sniff out hidden explosives, and to find people in collapsed buildings.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Oketz operators are often assigned to other units when said units are in need of their specialist skills, for instance, the extraction of terrorists from fortified buildings. Though not affiliated with the IDF Paratroopers Brigade, Oketz operators wear the same distinctive red berets and the unit's graduation ceremony is held at the Paratroopers headquarters. However, in order to join Oketz, the recruit must choose the Kfir Infantry Brigade as their preferred choice in the request form and then pass the unit's trials.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

Another use for dogs were to strap explosives to them, and then blow them up (by remote control) when they reached their target. In Operation Blue and Brown (Kachol Ve’hum) in Lebanon, 1986 such a dog was used in the failed attempt to assassinate Ahmed Jibril. The operation, which Bergman calls "an embarrassing flop", ended with one Israeli killed, and the dog was "frighted by the shooting and ran away". The dog was later recovered by Hizbollah.Ronen Bergman, 2018, Rise and Kill First, ch 21

The Oketz Unit took part in the response to 7 October 2023: "Ran praised one of the dogs for saving lives in the battle."{{Cite news |date=2023-10-14 |title=How the IDF retook the Gaza border from Hamas terrorists |url=https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-767919 |access-date=2024-09-26 |language=en |work=The Jerusalem Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014145007/https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/gaza-news/article-767919 |archive-date=2023-10-14 |url-status=live}}

According to Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor in June 2024—after video appeared of a 60-year-old woman in her home in the Jabalia refugee camp being mauled by dogs—the Israeli military was using dogs systematically to attack Palestinian civilians.{{Cite web |title=Tel Aviv University developed dog cameras for army unit linked to Gaza attacks |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/tel-aviv-university-developed-dog-cameras-army-unit-linked-gaza-attacks |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Middle East Eye |language=en}}

In July 2024, Mohammad Bhar, a 24-year-old Palestinian man with down syndrome and autism was mauled by dogs in his family home and left to die by Israeli soldiers.

Oketz prefers the Belgian Shepherd (Malinois), over the German Shepherd and Rottweiler, which were formerly employed by the unit. The reasons for this preference are twofold: one, the Malinois is large enough to effectively attack an enemy while still being small enough to be picked up by its handler, and two, their coats are short and typically of a neutral to fair color, making them less prone to heatstroke.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

Previously, Canaan dogs were used by the unit, but had to be retired since they were too stubborn.{{Cite web|title=From Rudolphina Menzel to Unit "Oketz" – Dogs on Top|url=https://archives.mod.gov.il:443/sites/English/Exhibitions/Pages/Dogs-on-Top.aspx|access-date=2021-08-31|website=archives.mod.gov.il|language=en-US}}

• Police dog
• War dog

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIg_YaRRut8 Oketz - The Crack Canine Unit] YouTube video about Oketz - The Crack Canine Unit
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080413095045/http://web.israelinsider.com/Articles/Briefs/7755.htm Israeli army's dogs to get new home, upscale cemetery] article by IsraelInsider daily newsmagazine about new home for Israeli army's dogs
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110520035853/http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/the_Front/2007/06/1001.htm Kidnap Attempt of an IDF Soldier Thwarted] article about thwarted kidnap attempt of an IDF soldier - A dog from the IDF Oketz canine unit is killed
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060421060911/http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/ar-news/Week-of-Mon-20040524/025251.html Another bomb-sniffing dog dies during duty] article by AR-News, written by Arene Fine, Staff Reporter, about Toska, an Israeli bomb-sniffing dog who died in battle
• [http://www.nic.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Memorial/2004/St.-Sgt.+Nadav+Kudinski.htm St.-Sgt. Nadav Kudinski]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Article published by Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about Staff-Sergeant Nadav Kudinski of the IDF Oketz canine unit, who, along with his dog, was killed by a bomb.{{Dead link|date=May 2012}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060720101308/http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit12122005/worldwatch.asp Israel's Dogs of War]
• [http://www.archives.mod.gov.il/sites/English/Exhibitions/Pages/Dogs-on-Top.aspx From Rudolphina Menzel to Unit "Oketz" – Dogs on Top, exhibition in the IDF&defense establishment archives]

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Category:Special forces of Israel

Category:Working dogs

Category:Military units and formations established in 1974