The name and photo of the officer killed in the secret operation in Khan Yunis were allowed to be published

Mahmoud Hir al-Din, a lieutenant colonel in the IDF's special operations unit, is the officer killed in the operation in 2018, and the only IDF space whose identity was banned from publication even after his death.

With the publication of the details of Lieutenant Colonel M., the IDF says that the possibility of publishing Emanuel Moreno's picture will soon be discussed.

Amir Bohbot

15/05/2022

Sunday, May 15, 2022, 6 p.m.

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ND Lieutenant Colonel M., a fighter in an elite unit, married and a father of two from the north, killed in a special IDF operation in the heart of the Gaza Strip (Photo: Reuters and Walla! NEWS Archive, edited by Niv Maoz)

Mahmoud Hir al-Din, a lieutenant colonel in the IDF's special operations unit, is the officer killed in the secret operation in Khan Yunis in 2018 - this was allowed for publication today (Sunday). After his death, due to a sensitive position he held, but this morning the IDF published his personal details.

More on Walla!

The rented house in the heart of Khan Yunis: new revelations from the entangled secret activity

To the full article

More on Walla!

• An officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel was killed and another officer was wounded in the exchange of fire deep in the Gaza Strip

• Incident in the depths of the Gaza Strip: 7 Palestinians killed;

  Hamas: We exposed a special IDF force

• Do not compromise on unsatisfactory sex: this will improve performance - with an exclusive discount

Vehicles used by Palestinians claiming Lt. Col. Mahmoud's force, 2018 (Photo: screenshot, -)

On November 11, 2018, Hamas operatives in Khan Yunis detained a special force of the Special Operations Unit (MM) in the IDF's Intelligence Division.

The force, which consisted of seven fighters, operated under a false identity in the heart of the Gaza Strip and included, among others, Lt. Col. Mahmoud Khir al-Din

. An exchange of fire ensued during which Lt. Col. Mahmoud was wounded and later killed.

The force began fleeing Hamas forces on the ground and with the assistance of the Air Force and the courageous action of the captain of a Yasur helicopter that landed in the Palestinian territory rescued the force.

Hamas worked for many days to reveal the identities of the squad members and published photos including a picture of a woman who had been banned from publishing in Israel.

On the recommendation of the IDF's Intelligence Division and with the approval of Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, it was decided that Lt. Col. M.'s details, photo and name, while the other fighters in the operation, would be banned from publication completely.

"The force acted under a false identity in the heart of Gaza."

Mahmoud Hir al-Din (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

The intelligence operation in the heart of the Palestinian territory failed after the force was exposed and the UN decided on a series of investigations that shook the array of special operations and led to a change of commanders.

At the end of the investigation, in September 2019, Kochavi decided to award the Chief of Staff's Salary to Lt. Col. Mahmoud after his death.

Out of initiative and striving for contact, he took on a leading role in the act of taking over the enemy and acted resourcefully to succeed in it.

"Lt. Col. Mahmoud, who was killed during the incident, showed in his actions a commitment to the mission, responsibility, personal example and evil."

Now, after a discussion chaired by the head of the IDF Intelligence Division, Major General Aharon Haliva, it has been decided to allow military censorship to publish his full name and photo. It is important to emphasize that soon During the Second Lebanon War and since then his picture has been banned from publication by military censors.

"Killed at age 41."

The tomb of Mahmoud Hir al-Din (Photo: Eli Ashkenazi)

The IDF spokesman said in a statement that Mahmoud, a resident of Hurfish and a member of the Druze community, was married to his wife Nahad and the couple had two sons

. "With the censorship and especially with the MM system to come to the conclusion in the end that there is no security impediment and no other impediment to publishing his details," said the head of the intelligence department, Major General Haliva, "I think he deserves it, his family and children."

The head of the Armed Forces further said that “the move is coordinated with the family.

The chief of staff awarded him a medal for his heroism.

He is the hero of Israel.

No less than that. "

"Completed during the service a bachelor's and master's degree in education."

Mahmoud Hir al-Din (Photo: IDF Spokesman)

Haliva said that Lt. Col. Mahmoud completed a bachelor's and master's degree in education during his service. Of an exceptional educator and leader.

"A special person not only on the operational side who requires exceptional skills," he said.

Haliva referred to the possibility of exposing Emanuel Moreno's picture.

We are in a process, this is the next discussion in which we will make a decision. "

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• Khan Yunis