IDF investigating after troops adorn heavy machinery in Gaza with Third Temple flags

By Emanuel Fabian

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30 October 2025, 8:29 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

The IDF says it is investigating after troops in the 36th Division adorned their heavy machinery with flags calling to build the Third Temple in Jerusalem.

Army Radio reports that a reservist in the division handed out the flags, which were placed on bulldozers and other engineering vehicles in Gaza, against army protocol.

“This is an incident that is not consistent with the IDF’s values. The incident will be investigated and handled accordingly,” the military says in response to a query.

Non-military patches and flags, especially those associated with messianic fundamentalist beliefs, were widespread in the IDF during the war. The IDF attempted to put an end to the phenomenon with a new list of guidelines published in April.