The Israeli army complains about the huge dogs in Gaza obstructing the work of the dogs of the “Aoukitz” unit (French)
The Hebrew newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" revealed the failure of the trained dogs of the "Oketz" unit of the Israeli army to confront the huge dogs used by Palestinian resistance members in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli newspaper said in a report published yesterday, Wednesday, January 31, 2023, that the Israeli Ministry of Defense has currently begun implementing a large operation to purchase trained dogs from Europe for use in the Gaza War, following the failure of the dogs of the “Oketz” unit to carry out their tasks well, due to... Attacked by huge dogs used by Hamas in war.
According to the newspaper, the Director of Purchasing at the Israeli Ministry of Defense directed the implementation of the purchasing process from suppliers of trained dogs on a regular basis, especially of the Malinois breed, in the Netherlands and Germany, which is expected to begin in the coming months.
The security system is also looking for suppliers of explosive detection dogs, rescue dogs, and attack dogs from other countries as well, as a delegation of a veterinarian and a head trainer on behalf of the unit went to Europe to promote this step and choose the best dogs, according to the newspaper.
According to “Yedioth Ahronoth,” the dogs of the “Oketz” unit greatly assist “IDF soldiers in identifying dangerous areas in which militants hide, or plant weapons and missiles, and in many cases the dogs are killed while carrying out complex tasks in built-up and dangerous areas.” ".
The newspaper admitted that 17 operational dogs had been killed in the fierce battles so far, noting that Hamas members leave the large dogs chained inside the targeted homes to frighten and mislead the army dogs, until the army carries out the process of withdrawing its forces from these areas.
Yedioth Ahronoth said that, in recent weeks, in the neighborhoods of Sheikh Zayed, Al-Daraj and Al-Tuffah (north), Israeli army forces detected “large dogs left tied with ropes and long chains inside homes, and in the courtyards of buildings to which (Israeli) soldiers send dogs to conduct preliminary combing.” .
She added, "We are talking about unusual events that may hinder the work of the dogs of the Awkaits Unit, which are sent to the place to ensure that there are no explosive devices or gunmen ambushing the soldiers."
She pointed out that "the dogs of the Awkitz unit are really skilled at ignoring noise, gunshots, and the presence of other animals, such as cats and dogs, but in such situations, the huge dogs of Gaza may try to attack the unit's dogs and thus hinder their work."
Meanwhile, elite unit fighters talk about a growing phenomenon of Hamas members deliberately leaving dogs tied up at midnight, or in areas where the Israeli army is scanning, in order to mislead detection dogs and disrupt their activity in confrontations with other dogs.
According to the report, at least 3 different incidents occurred recently, in the neighborhoods of Khan Yunis, where large dogs were left tied with long chains in built-up areas, where the unit’s dogs are sent for reconnaissance, confirming the absence of explosive devices and the presence of gunmen lurking around army soldiers, indicating that the presence of dogs The local area led to difficulty in carrying out the survey mission and the occurrence of conflicts between animals.
The newspaper claimed that trained dogs found at least 160 sites containing explosives in the Gaza Strip, and that they helped arrest dozens of Hamas members.
Israeli reports said that Hamas fighters leave dogs chained in areas where the Israeli army is scanning to hinder the work of the dogs of the Okitz Unit (French).
"Oketz", the trained dog unit in the Israeli army
"Okitis" means "bite" or "crush" in Hebrew, and it is a military unit affiliated with the "Marom" Brigade for Special Operations in the occupation army, and it is considered one of the best trained dog units in the world.
The "Okitz" unit for trained dogs in the Israeli army was established in 1974 at the Sirkin base. The unit began with only 11 recruited dogs before it later expanded to include hundreds.
The unit began its work secretly during the seventies and eighties before it was officially announced in 1988, after it carried out a lightning operation in southern Lebanon.
Awkits dogs use their sense of smell and hearing, their sharp teeth, and their high fitness to attack, enter narrow spaces, locate weapons, and detect explosives.
According to Israeli reports, pedigree dog puppies are brought from specialized farms from Belgium and Germany when they are no more than 6 months old, and then, after being evaluated by experts, they are purchased at a cost of approximately 10 or 15 thousand dollars per puppy.
The puppies undergo a rehabilitation course with the aim of improving the use of their sense of smell for a year, in addition to receiving the required vaccinations before they begin working for another year with the special forces branches of the occupation army, such as “Dovdovan” and “Igoz”, in preparation for their inclusion in the “Oketz” unit.
According to Hebrew reports, it takes 17 months to qualify a fighting dog in the Okitz unit, during which it undergoes a complete physical fitness program, supervised by professional trainers, to develop its skills in exploration operations.
The unit's trained dogs, such as German Shepherds, Belgian dogs, and Dutch Dobermans, are usually recruited. The dog's expected combat service period in the unit lasts about 7 or 8 years, provided it maintains good health, after which the dog is transferred to service in the police forces. Civilian.
Source: Al Jazeera + Israeli press + websites