Shin Bet efforts to locate hostages

Shin Bet steps up efforts to locate hostages and counter terrorism

The 2024 annual report of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) highlights unprecedented figures regarding efforts to combat terrorism and locate Israeli hostages held in Gaza. This year, the agency interviewed more than 650 Gazans in depth and conducted a preliminary assessment of nearly 2,500 people.

Strategic arrests for crucial information
According to the report, among the 2,500 Gazans examined, around 1,350 were arrested during Shin Bet-backed operations. Among them, around a hundred were questioned to obtain information on Israeli hostages held by Hamas. At the same time, 40 key figures in Gazan terrorist structures were captured, marking a significant step forward in the fight against groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The Shin Bet also assessed the involvement of 165 agents linked to senior terrorist cadres, although the exact nature of their role remains unclear. In addition, 45 individuals are believed to have participated in the October 7 attack, one of the most violent invasions orchestrated by Hamas.

Assessment of detainees and outstanding questions
Despite these figures, questions remain. What happened to the 1,850 Gazans not interviewed in detail? According to sources, some of them were released and returned to Gaza due to lack of immediate threat. During an operation at Shifa Hospital in March, the Israeli army arrested more than 800 people, including 500 confirmed members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. However, their current status remains uncertain.

A fierce fight against terrorism in the West Bank and Jerusalem
Outside of Gaza, the Shin Bet foiled 1,040 significant attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem, including 689 shootings and 326 bomb attacks. These operations made it possible to reduce the number of successful attacks by 40% compared to the previous year. Among the most notable operations were the infiltration of the Jenin hospital and interventions in Nablus and Tulkarem.

The Shin Bet also played a key role in rescue operations for hostages, both alive and dead. Additionally, its special team has worked with police to prevent attacks in real time during 32 deployments this year.

The rise of Iranian threats
The report also warns of Iran's intensifying hostile activities. By 2024, arrests related to Iranian espionage increased by 400%, with 27 Israelis indicted for various ties to Tehran. At the same time, 20 Arab-Israeli terrorist cells were neutralized, five of which were preparing explosive attacks.

Working with cybersecurity authorities, the Shin Bet foiled more than 700 serious cyberattacks, a figure five times higher than the previous year.

Gray areas on extremist violence
The report fails to address in depth Jewish extremist violence against Palestinians. Yet military statistics reveal a steady increase in these incidents since 2022, despite a slight decline in 2024. Limited police cooperation, under the leadership of Itamar Ben Gvir, complicates efforts to reduce this violence.

A pivotal role on several fronts
Finally, the Shin Bet provided security for hundreds of trips by senior Israeli officials to the fronts of Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. These efforts underline the scope of the missions carried out by the agency to protect the State of Israel in the face of multiple and complex threats.

Jforum.fr