Avichay Adraee

Avichay Adraee (; ; born 19 July 1982) is a Colonel in the Israel Defense Forces who served as the head of the Arab media division of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit until 2026 and is engaged in military public diplomacy. As a result of his position, he receives extensive exposure in the Arab media and is known throughout the Arab world. He is of Syrian Jewish, Iraqi Jewish, and Turkish Jewish descent.

Early life and career Adraee was born in 1982 in Haifa. His maternal grandparents immigrated from Iraq, his grandparents from his father's side immigrated from Turkey and Syria. He studied at the Hebrew Reali School in Haifa. His father reportedly encouraged him to learn Arabic at home, and he later honed his skills in school and through watching classic Egyptian films.

Military career When he enlisted in the IDF, he served in Unit 8200 in the Intelligence Corps, a unit that deals with signals intelligence. There, he expanded his knowledge of Arabic before joining the Spokesperson's Unit in 2005. Adraee emphasized the role of social media, stating "The idea was to use social media not only to disseminate press releases but also to generate discourse among specific target audiences. We are looking to influence, not just do PR." That same year, Adraee sparked significant controversy by posting a two-part Arabic video on X that featured overt anti-Shia rhetoric and referenced scholars associated with the Islamic State (IS), leading many to believe this was an effort by Israel to incite Sunni sectarian tensions against Iran. He is frequently invited by major news channels, particularly in the Gulf, to provide commentary.

In 2024, Adraee accused Al Jazeera Media Network of concealing Hamas's activities. He claimed, "I am convinced that he knows the names of a great number of the Hamas terrorists among those killed in the school. But he presents a lie, the motivation for which has nothing to do with the residents of Gaza," referring to Al-Jazeera Arabic journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who had been reporting on the war in Gaza since its onset. On 15 February 2026, Adraee's role was officially handed over to Ella Waweya during a ceremony in Tel Aviv.

Public image and regional influence Over the years, through his military digital public diplomacy, Adraee has attracted a massive following in the Arab world. In 2021, he told the Israeli online media outlet Mako, "I speak Arabic all day long, and I dream in Arabic from time to time."

Personal life Adraee lives in Rehovot.

On 15 January 2024, Adraee was reportedly the primary target of a car-ramming attack in Ra’anana, carried out by Palestinian militants motivated by his prominent role as the Israeli military's Arabic spokesman. This information was revealed in a police report a month later, indicating that the attackers had been planning the assault for months, with one of them having previously spotted Adraee, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries during their violent spree.