Israel's Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee Retires After 20 Years, Leaving 2.5 Million Followers
Updated
Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 9
Israel's Arabic Spokesman Avichay Adraee Retires After 20 Years, Leaving 2.5 Million Followers
3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Jun 9
Summary
Avichay Adraee, 43, is retiring this year after 20 years as Israel’s first Arabic-language military spokesman, a role that made him one of the Arab world’s most recognizable Israeli officials.
His 2.5 million followers across platforms turned his Arabic videos into a key wartime channel for evacuation warnings in Gaza and Lebanon, where residents often treated new posts as signals that strikes were imminent.
That prominence also made him a lightning rod: Palestinians and Lebanese linked his messages to death and displacement, while analysts said his posts carried life-and-death consequences and reflected a broader push to make official war narratives go viral.
Adraee also faced accusations from the Committee to Protect Journalists of labeling reporters militants without verifiable evidence; at least 207 journalists have been killed in Gaza and 16 in Lebanon since 2023.
Lt. Col. Ella Waweya, the Israeli military’s highest-ranking Muslim woman, will replace him as Israel continues using social media as a direct channel to Arabic-speaking audiences.
Amid a UN genocide ruling and a new Iran war, can a new spokesperson truly reshape Israel's narrative?
Can Israel's new Muslim spokeswoman succeed where a viral influencer failed to win hearts and minds?
Are military evacuation warnings on social media a humanitarian tool or just a pretext for modern warfare?
From Adraee to Waweya: The IDF’s High-Stakes Transition in Arabic-Language Digital Diplomacy
Overview
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is undergoing a major transition as Colonel Avichay Adraee retires after 18 years as the Arabic-language spokesperson, ending an era marked by his high-profile presence and millions of followers across the Arab world. Adraee’s departure paves the way for Lieutenant Colonel Ella Waweya, who brings her own experience and unique background to the role. This leadership change signals a new chapter in the IDF’s communication strategy, as Waweya’s appointment is expected to influence how Israel’s narrative is delivered to Arabic-speaking audiences during a time of regional tension and evolving digital diplomacy.