Ex-gangster turned spokesperson to lead Israeli army’s Turkish X account
Israeli soldiers keep watch as Palestinian civilians leave their homes for safety during a raid by the army in the Nur Shams near Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank on February 10, 2025. (AFP Photo)
Israeli army has launched a Turkish-language account on the social media platform X, which has sparked a mix of curiosity and controversy. It turns out the spokesperson for the account, Arye Sharuz Shalicar, has a checkered past. Shalicar was a member of a gang in Germany.
Shalicar, a German-born Persian Jew, spent his teenage years immersed in gangster culture, often seen in gold chains and gangster attire, according to Israeli media outlet The Times of Israel. He is currently serving as the spokesperson for the Israeli Army’s Europe desk, spreading propaganda to justify the atrocities committed by the Israeli military.
Shalicar practiced Turkish with his Turkish friends in Germany while living there and also attended Turkish language classes at a university in Berlin.
‘I was involved in crime’
Shalicar acknowledged his past in a recent statement, saying, “I was involved in crime, involved in gang life. All sorts of things. What usually gangs do.”
Most recently, Shalicar appeared in a video posted on the new Turkish-language account of the Israeli army on X. In the video, he greeted viewers in Turkish: “Hello Türkiye, welcome to the official X account of the Israeli army. This platform will be used to provide reliable and real-time updates about developments in the region. Follow us.”
This new development coincides with reports of Israel requesting assurances from the U.S. regarding Türkiye’s involvement in Syria. Reports suggest that Israel is lobbying the U.S. to ensure Syria remains weak and decentralized, including allowing Russia to retain military bases in the country, in a bid to counter Türkiye’s growing regional influence.
Israeli army atrocities in Gaza
Nearly 48,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and over 111,000 injured in a brutal Israeli army onslaught on Gaza since October 2023. The assault, which left the enclave in ruins, was paused under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took effect on January 19.
Israel halted the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza on Sunday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to begin negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire deal between Tel Aviv and Hamas.
Meanwhile, in November 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice regarding its actions in the region.
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