Sneak Peek into Elite IDF Unit: Hunting Terrorists in Gaza’s Shadows

In the sweltering heat of a Gaza summer, a covert IDF commando team operates with lethal precision, tracking Hamas operatives hiding among civilians and striking with advanced drones. Known as Unit 6, this elite squad within the Maglan brigade is Israel’s “long arm,” eliminating terrorists with unmatched autonomy in the heart of enemy territory. Israel Hayom journalist Hanan Greenwood embedded with the unit at a forward outpost near Nahal Oz, revealing their high-stakes mission to ensure the atrocities of October 7, 2023, are never repeated.

Inside a dusty caravan at the newly built “Magen Nahal Oz” outpost, just meters from the Gaza border breached during the 2023 Hamas attack, reservists of Unit 6, officially Battalion 6212, huddle around a small screen. Their target: a Hamas operative from the Sajaiya Brigade, concealed in a tent encampment 3 kilometers away, surrounded by women and children. As the crowd thins and the target appears to retire, a drone armed with an Elbit “Steel Sting” missile strikes. A deafening “Boom!” flashes across the screen, met with shouts of “Yes!” from the team. “We waited to minimize collateral damage,” a soldier explains, noting the drone’s near-empty battery.

Formed 20 years ago as a classified offshoot of the Maglan brigade, Unit 6 specializes in “exposure-strike” operations, identifying and neutralizing high-value targets deep in hostile territory. Established in the 1980s to destroy critical targets and gather intelligence with advanced combat tools, Maglan’s motto, drawn from Isaiah, is “In quietness and trust shall be your strength.” Unit 6 embodies this, operating with unique autonomy. “We can identify terrorists blending into the population, isolate them, and strike,” says Maj. A., commander of the exposure platoon. Unlike most IDF units reliant on air force or artillery support, Unit 6’s eight teams, split into exposure and strike platoons, execute attacks independently, using cutting-edge drones and precision missiles.

Since the Gaza war began, the unit has eliminated 150 terrorists, including key figures from the October 7 attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis. One recent strike targeted a Hamas squad leader responsible for murders in Kibbutz Be’eri, tracked for three months. “We knew his exact room,” says Capt. Y., a reservist and student with the Tekuma Administration. “The air force couldn’t fire due to the building’s angle, but we got him.” Another operation neutralized a terrorist linked to the killing of Maglan soldier Dekel Suissa, a mission driven by personal resolve for the team.

Life on the Edge

The outpost, a stark contrast to the ravaged Nahal Oz base where dozens died on October 7, hums with focus. A rattling air conditioner battles the August heat as soldiers monitor targets. Outside, a fighter in a bucket hat watches smoke rise from a bombed-out Sajaiya structure. A wall lists targets, one marked “Eliminated,” with a vow: “The rest will get theirs.” Nearby, two “Steel Sting” missiles stand ready, mounted on equipped Defender vehicles.

The reservists, many with ties to the Gaza envelope, carry the weight of that day. Lt. Col. Sh., a 40-year-old father of four from Tzur Hadassah, recalls mistaking early explosions for neighborly noise, only to learn of the “major event” unfolding. Maj. N., a founder of Moshav Retamim, funded buses out of pocket to rush the unit to the front when vehicles failed, later reimbursed after 18 months. Maj. A., from Zikim, was trapped in his kibbutz during the attack, unable to join until evening. “It was frustrating,” he admits, now back in active duty while finishing a mechanical engineering degree.

A Legacy of Loss and Resolve

Unit 6’s operations extend beyond Gaza. In November 2024, they countered Hezbollah in Lebanon, suffering their only combat loss since founding: Staff Sgt. (res.) Eitan Ben Ami, killed in a structure collapse. “It happened in seconds,” recalls Staff Sgt. N. “We shouted for ‘Iron Numbers’ to report, but Eitan was gone.” His mother, Tzili, shared that Eitan, a vibrant soul who radiated warmth, saw reserve duty as his calling, even after his April 2024 discharge. “He felt he could help,” she said.

The unit’s 100% mobilization rate reflects their commitment. “When we’re needed, we show up,” says Master Sgt. B. “Eliminating a terrorist who walked here on October 7, that’s worth everything.” A wall at the outpost bears the names of fallen soldiers—Dekel Suissa, Amishar Ben David, Chen Buchris, Gal Eisenkot, and a message to hostages: “Omri, Gali, Ziv, we haven’t forgotten you.”

Balancing Duty and Life

Despite over 300 days of reserve duty since the war began, the soldiers juggle civilian lives. Cpt. Y., nearing 400 days of service, works to rebuild the Gaza envelope. Another fighter, whose wife is nearing the end of her pregnancy, joined her doctor’s visit remotely from Gaza. A tent serves as an impromptu university study room, with soldiers completing degrees between missions. “We balance civilian life and duty,” one says, gesturing to a makeshift lounge with broken chairs and a well-used grill.

A Mission to Prevent History’s Repeat

As Greenwood departs past cornfields and muddy puddles, the reservists’ resolve is unshaken. Capt. Y. finds purpose driving by Nir Am, recalling an October 8 ambush: “A friend thought he’d die that night. We’re here to ensure it never happens again.” Their work, rooted in quiet strength, carries a clear message: every terrorist’s time will come.