On October 7th, the horrifying terrorist attack orchestrated by Hamas shook the Israeli townships around Gaza and the southern region of the country, claiming the lives of over 1,400 people. This brutal incident left a trail of devastation as many Israelis lost their lives while attempting to escape from the relentless terrorists. Tragically, the victims' bodies were strewn across the area, sometimes concealed in hiding spots or obscured by the overgrowth of bushes.

In the wake of this harrowing reality, the IDF's missing persons unit, known as Eitan, has continued its relentless efforts to search for the bodies, even more than a month after the heinous massacre, often braving gunfire in the process. One individual who found himself grappling with the challenge was Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Nissim Magnaghi, a reserve officer who volunteered to serve in the IDF forces in the southern region. It was during this trying period that Lt. Col. Magnaghi conceived an innovative idea aimed at simplifying the search process - utilizing large numbers of birds of prey in the combat zones. His idea garnered the attention of the Eitan commander, who subsequently reached out to the relevant authorities to assist in the unconventional surveillance of the area's birds of prey.

חודש אחרי הטבח ובעזרת עופות דורסים נמצאו עוד 4 גופות של נרצחים ביער של בארי עי פקחים של רשות הטבע 💔😭 pic.twitter.com/mJZ3FMTCgA

— orli sagi 🇮🇱💙🤍 (@SagiOrli) November 3, 2023

Yaron Charka, the chief birder of JNF (Jewish National Fund), shed light on the potential of this approach, explaining, "During the winter, tens of thousands of predatory birds migrate to Israel, covering the entire Negev and Gaza Strip. Many of them, however, concentrate in this specific area, offering a genuine opportunity to identify the locations of bodies by tracking the movements of these birds."

Charka elaborated on the process of locating bodies through bird patrol, stating, "In some instances, we were able to identify a body because the raptor next to it was equipped with a GPS transmitter. This allowed us to observe that the bird had remained in one place for an extended period. Since these tracking devices are quite costly, only a select few birds of prey carry them. Consequently, the collaborative efforts of the unit, KKL-JNF officials, and the Nature and Parks Authority are primarily focused on identifying regions with a significant congregation of raptors."

For those asking: No, Israel has not cleaned up these sites yet (except for bodies).

Why would they? There are twisted people denying the massacres that the terrorists themselves documented.

This place is proof. https://t.co/fbPTkHP57B

— Kassy Dillon (@KassyDillon) November 2, 2023

While some of the bodies discovered using this method belonged to Hamas terrorists, the significance of this approach lies in the fact that it has also led to the recovery and subsequent identification and burial of several Israeli victims. Charka summed up the importance of avian assistance, stating, "In many cases, we would not have been able to locate the bodies on the ground, especially if they were concealed or in unexpected locations. However, the keen eyesight of these predatory birds, soaring high above, enables them to spot the bodies and land nearby, greatly aiding our efforts."