A clip of a soldier praying at the Gaza border fence before going in to battle was viewed millions of times.
By Hezy Laing
The 12 most viral IDF posts online have ranged from dramatic battlefield footage to controversial TikTok videos, each sparking massive engagement and global debate. These posts reflect the power and peril of military social media in the digital age.
🎥 “Soldier’s Singing in Hamas Tunnel” A surreal clip of IDF soldiers singing Hebrew songs inside a Hamas tunnel during a raid. It was shared widely on TikTok and Telegram.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/hnaftali/videos/israel-defense-forces-soldiers-welcome-shabbat-by-singing-in-gaza/1169236404278827/
🎥 “Soldier’s Goodbye Message” – Pre-Deployment Video
A heartfelt video of a young soldier saying goodbye to his family before entering Gaza drew millions of views and thousands of emotional comments.
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMdc4NKOEhh/
🎥 “Hostage Rescue Announcement” – July 2024
The IDF’s post announcing the successful rescue of four hostages from Gaza received over 10 million views in 24 hours, with dramatic footage and celebratory reactions.
Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:YAMAM-Operation-Arnon-2024-06-08.webm
🎥 “Tank Crew’s Final Stand” – October 7, 2023
A recording from inside a Merkava tank at Nahal Oz, where Tzevet Peretz fought to the death against Hamas. The audio went viral across Israeli and global platforms, becoming a symbol of heroism and tragedy.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4zJBoVth1M
🎥 “Soldier Dancing in Gaza”
A 2024 TikTok video of a soldier putting on tefillin and dancing inside a destroyed Gazan home sparked outrage and millions of views. Critics called it trivializing war; supporters saw it as spiritual resilience.
Link: https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeastmonitor/video/7424510455734914336
🎥 “IDF Female Observers Tribute” – Post-October 7 Memorial
A viral montage honoring the 16 female field observers killed at Nahal Oz. Widely shared on Instagram and Telegram, it drew emotional responses and calls for reform.
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_D7TJ6NiyF/?hl=en
🎥 “Drone Strike POV” – Combat Footage from Southern Lebanon
A helmet-cam video showing a drone strike on Hezbollah positions, posted by IDF accounts, garnered millions of views and was picked up by international media.
reddit.com/r/CombatFootage/comments/1hyszuz/israeli_infantry_and_drones_versus_a_hezbollah/
🎥 “A Soldier’s Prayer at Border Fence”
A clip of a lone soldier praying at the Gaza border fence before battle, was viewed millions of times.
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOmB5qiCUUn/
🎥 “Iron Dome Intercept Compilation” – 2021 Escalation
A stitched video showing dozens of Iron Dome interceptions during the May 2021 conflict went viral globally, used by news outlets and defense enthusiasts.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T-Enb1GfWE
🎥 “IDF vs Hamas Tech Breakdown” – Infographic Post
A viral infographic comparing IDF and Hamas capabilities, posted by official IDF channels, was shared across Reddit, X, and Instagram.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUkgn4sNlo
🎥 “IDF Uncovers Biggest Hamas Command Center”
Viral footage of IDF troops discovering a massive underground Hamas base, complete with weapons and surveillance gear.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iy6-qgnKN8M
🎥 “IDF Soldier in the Heat of Combat”
A soldier’s emotional video from the frontlines, blending Torah reflection with battlefield intensity.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8OE452DSPs
These posts reflect a mix of heroism, controversy, and strategic messaging, often blurring the line between military communication and viral content.
