'Captain Ella,' first Arab Muslim woman at rank of Lt-Col, named new IDF Arabic-language spokesperson

Major Ella Waweya (known as "Captain Ella") will succeed Colonel Avichay Adraee as the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson, following a decision reached on Tuesday at an IDF personnel assignment discussion.

As part of the appointment, Waweya will be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Major Waweya, who was Adraee’s deputy until now, was born in Qalansawe to a Muslim family. She enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) secretly and went on to become the first Muslim female officer in the IDF.

In 2013, she joined the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit and has since served in the Arabic Media Branch under Adraee.

She has also received the President’s Award of Excellence and is known for producing Arabic-language public diplomacy videos for social media.

Col. Avichay Adraee is expected to conclude his tenure in the near future, at his request. He has held the position since 2005, for over two decades.

Over the years, Adraee has been interviewed hundreds of times by Arab television channels, including Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, and is regarded as a prominent figure in the Arab world.

He also managed the IDF Spokesperson’s Arabic-language social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Telegram and TikTok.