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Intelligence analysts are pouring over Hamas’ 65 million computer files and half a million documents, all of which Israeli troops have collected since Oct. 27 when they invaded the Gaza Strip.
The dissection is being done by the Document and Technical Means Collection Unit, part of the Israel Defense Forces’ Intelligence Directorate and comprised primarily of military reservists, Israeli officials said Thursday.
“Its job is to extract intelligence from the assets collected by all the soldiers in the field,” the IDF said on its Telegram social media page. “The unit analyzes and concludes operational implications, which improve the activity of the soldiers in the Gaza Strip.”
Raw intelligence is gathered on the battlefield, analyzed and returned as fresh tactical information for the units in the field. IDF officials cited a recent example when soldiers discovered a map of a tunnel complex used by Hamas. The intelligence analysts studied the document and identified its location.
“The information was relayed back to the soldiers in the field, the tunnel shaft was identified near IDF soldiers and was neutralized by combat engineering soldiers,” officials said.
Intelligence gathered in the field also helped IDF soldiers locate a mosque in Khan Yunis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, that Hamas terrorists used to launch attacks against Israeli troops, officials said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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