Man charged with impersonating IDF officer during Oct. 7 attacks, obtaining classified info

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

An Israeli man has been charged with posing as an IDF officer during the October 7 terror onslaught, during which he obtained and shared confidential information, law enforcement and security officials say.

A joint statement by the Shin Bet, IDF, police, and Justice Ministry, says an indictment was filed against the man on November 20 at the Beersheba Magistrate’s Court.

The announcement comes following requests to release the incident for publication by the Ynet news site.

According to the indictment, the unnamed Israeli man arrived in southern Israel on the morning of October 7 and joined IDF forces while posing as an officer with the rank of captain.

The man was not called up for reserve duty, the statement says.

The charge sheet says the man obtained highly classified information, documented other confidential information in various ways, and in several cases shared the top secret information with civilians and soldiers who were not approved to have it.

He was detained and interrogated following suspicions that arose in the IDF, the statement says.

The man is charged with obtaining something fraudulently under aggravated circumstances, providing confidential information, possession of secret information without authority, and entering a military zone.

Defense officials say the man was not operating under instructions of any “hostile elements” and the information he shared did not reach any such enemy.

“This is a serious incident that was investigated by the IDF at the same time as the indictment was filed, and lessons have been drawn accordingly,” the statement adds.

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