Amir Bohbot

Walla! Defense & Military Analyst. In 2011, Bohbot began working as a military analyst and reporter for the Walla! Website. In 2012, he covered the Pillar of Defense operation in-depth, as well as the Brother's Keeper Operation, to find the three kidnapped teenagers accompanying the special unit Maglan forces. In Operation Protective Edge, he joined the then-commander of the Nahal Brigade, Brigadier General Uri Gordin, and exposed the military activity of Hamas under the guise of sensitive facilities and sites of international aid organizations in Gaza. Bohbot began his journalistic career in the veteran local newspaper "Sheva." Between 1996 and 2011, he worked for the Maariv newspaper, filling several field positions, including a reporter for criminal affairs, politics, municipal systems, law, and investigations for the Weekend magazine. In 2003, he began serving as a reporter and analyst for military and security affairs in Maariv. Bohbot covered in-depth the investigations of Operation Defensive Shield, Days of Penitence operation, on which he published an independent investigation in two parts and Operation Rainbow. He also covered the disengagement from the Gaza Strip process, Operation Summer Rains, the Second Lebanon War, and Operation Cast Lead, during which he joined the fighting forces under the command of then-Paratroopers Brigade commander Major General Herzi Halevi. Bohbot holds a bachelor's degree in communications from Sapir College, a master's degree in communications from Ben-Gurion University, and a master's degree in political science from Bar-Ilan University in a thesis track he completed with honors. He holds a doctorate in the Department of Political Science at Bar-Ilan University on the study of the Israeli targeted killing policy between the years 2000 and 2012 and the decision-making processes of the senior military and political echelon in Israel and the United States. In 2017, Bohbot's debut book was published in English: "Weapon Wizards," which he co-wrote with the former Jerusalem Post's editor-in-chief, lawyer Yaakov Katz. The book dealt with the question of how Israel became a global arms power. The book was translated into Hebrew, Czech, Polish, and Chinese after its success.

Activists wash the deck of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship 'Handala' as they prepare to sail for Gaza in an attempt to break a long-standing Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Marsa, Malta August 16, 2024.

'Handala' ship approaches Gaza coast, reaching farther than last month's 'Madleen' flotilla

IDF operates throughout the Gaza Strip, July 23, 2025.

Israel’s new border defense strategy: AI sensors, killer drones, smartwatch tracking

 Israeli drone.

Israel Police question IDF officer, soldiers over suspected sabotage of drones


IDF strikes evasive Hamas commander's Beit Hanun hideout

The IDF and Shin Bet struck the hideout of Hussein Fiad, also known as Abu Hamza, and are waiting for confirmation that he was killed in the strike.

 IDF soldiers operate in Gaza, July 16 2025

IDF to reduce reserve call-up orders following large drafts of non-essential roles

The directive comes amid growing internal and public complaints that administrative and rear-echelon reservists were being called up without taking part in meaningful assignments.

 IDF soldiers operating in the Gaza Strip, July 17, 2025.

'The test of our lives': Home Front Command officers share unit's successes during Israel-Iran war

Col. (res.) Yossi Pinto, and Maj. A described how the Search and Rescue Brigade were able to operate and react to the impact of Iran's ballistic missile barrages.

 Commander of the Home Front Command's Search and Rescue Brigade, Colonel (res.) Yossi Pinto during a presentation; illustrative.

How the IDF reinforced Israel's northern border amid Syrian Druze tensions

In recent months, the IDF thwarted several attempts to transfer tanks and armoured personnel carriers (APCs) to the Syrian Golan region.

 IDF troops operate in Syria.

IDF soldier hospitalized after apparently suffering self-inflicted gunshot wound

It remains unclear if the event was an attempted suicide or an accident.

 IDF soldiers operate in Gaza's Beit Hanun, July 2025; illustrative.

October 7 probe: 35 Hamas terrorists overran Mop Darom base, led to collapse of camp's defense

The investigation concluded that the tenacity and courage of the soldiers and commanders from the Golani Brigade, and reinforcements who arrived to assist, were noteworthy.

 Israeli security forces on road 232 near Sderot.

WATCH: IDF strikes Syrian tanks that advanced towards sectarian violence, near Israel's border

Since Sunday, 89 people have been killed and at least 100 wounded in armed clashes in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida.

 IDF troops operate on Mount Hermon in Syria, May 5, 2025.

Writing the pages of history: IDF drone cmdr. recounts tense moments of striking Iranian missiles

Lt.-Col. G. discusses the tense moments of firing on Iranian missiles moments away from launch, and the pressure of knowing what would happen if he failed.

(Illustrative) The Elbit-made Hermes 900 drone.

Jordanian border smuggling and West Bank infiltration: Israel's security challenges explained

From the porous border with Jordan to the terror threats in the West Bank and beyond, a senior security official spoke to Walla about the challenges the IDF faces in central Israel.

Israeli security forces seen during an operation in the Tulkarm refugee camp, in the West Bank, July 6, 2025

IDF soldier Abraham Azulay killed in Khan Yunis during attempted abduction

Azulay fought back and was killed by gunfire. A security team at the scene opened fire, struck several terrorists, and thwarted the abduction attempt.

 St.-Sgt.-Maj. (res.) Abraham Azulay.