Israel Special Forces' Response to Hamas in 2023 (2024)

Last week saw the most extensive mobilization of the Israel Special Forces in military assets since 1967’s Six-Day War.

This comes on the heels of Hamas’ October 7 surprise attack, abrutal assault that targeted thousands of Israeli civilians.

To make matters even worse, it’s estimated that Hamas operatives kidnapped some 150 Israelis on their way back to the Gaza Strip. These Israelis are now being held hostage to be used for leverage in what must surely be highly hostile negotiations.

It’s like something out of a nightmare. But this type of scenario is precisely why Israel Special Forces exist in the first place.

Spurred on by previous tragedies, including the unspeakable massacre of the Israeli Olympic team in 1972, Israel has spent a fortune developing some of the most capable and effective special forces units anywhere in the world. If anyone can rescue Israel’s hostages, it’s these guys.

With this in mind,we will take a deeper look at Israel Special Forces and the Intelligence and Special Operations Unit, popularly known as Mossad, and reveal some of the cutting-edge gear that Special Forces operators trust their lives to…

Table of Contents

• 01

  Reborn in Tragedy

• 02

  Breaking Down Israel Special Forces Units

• 03

  Top Three Tactical Gear Selections

• 04

  A Devastating Tactical Response

• 05

  Frequently Asked Questions about the Israel Special Forces

Reborn in Tragedy

1972’s Munich Olympic Games began as a symbolic and peaceful competition before devolving into one of the decade’s defining tragedies.

That year’s Summer Olympics was a significant milestone for Germany, marking the first time the country had hosted the Olympics since the 1936 Berlin Games. After the devastation of World War II, the event was meant to symbolize Germany’s return to the world stage.

Likewise, for Israel, the games provided an opportunity to symbolically move past the horrors of the Holocaust and to demonstrate its athletic prowess and enduring spirit after the nation’s founding in 1948.

Sadly, this was not to be, as thePalestinian terrorist organization known as Black September had other plans.

Formed in 1970,this group was an offshoot of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), and it was responsible for a number of different terrorist acts that primarily targeted Israeli interests. Their stated aim was to draw attention and support to the Palestinian cause, effecting the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

On September 5, 1972, eight members of the Black September group scaled fences to infiltrate the Olympic Village. Once inside, they made their way to the apartments where the Israeli team members were staying. In the process, they woke up Yossef Gutfreund, a wrestling referee, who tried to resist the intruders but was ultimately overpowered by them.

After taking the Israeli Olympic team hostage, the members of Black September immediately demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails. They also demanded the release of the founders of the Red Army Faction, a German radical left-wing group.

German authorities fielded their demands and began negotiations. But they were sorely underprepared for a crisis of this magnitude. And because they were initially optimistic about their ability to negotiate with the terrorists,they refused to allow Israel Special Forces to get involved. Ultimately, this turned out to be a terrible mistake.

The Germans made a long list of careless mistakes in the negotiations. First and foremost, they relied on untrained, inexperienced hostage negotiators.Additionally,they failed to keep a single consistent line of communication open with the terrorists.

And when they finally tried to carry out a rescue operation on September 6, it ended with the death of all eleven hostages and one German police officer. As the world watched in horror, the tragic gunfight was broadcast on television.

The Munich Olympics Hostage Disaster sent shockwaves around the world, as theloss of innocent lives during a peaceful sporting event was an unprecedented act of terrorism. In this way, the Olympic Games—supposed to symbolize international cooperation and peace—were transformed into a grim stage for violence and terror.

The Israeli government’s response was swift, initiating Operation Wrath of God to track down and bring justice to those responsible for the massacre. This operation was famously depicted in Spielberg’s Munich, a tense action thriller that you should probably rewatch.

This tragedy served to perpetuate the alienation between Israelis and Palestinians that had already gone on for centuries. But it also galvanized support for counterterrorism efforts across the world. Governments began to accept a whole new reality of potential terrorist threats, and they ramped up their intelligence-sharing and monitoring efforts as a result.

And few have gone further with these efforts than Israel itself. The country continued its post-Munich operations for decades. They eventually resulted in the assassination of Atef Bseiso, the PLO’s head of intelligence, for his links to the attack in 1992—two full decades later.

So, in addition to its massive anti-terrorist resources, Israel Special Forces have also demonstrated a persistence unlike any other.

Breaking Down Israel Special Forces Units

Mossad is arguably the most famous Israel Special Forces unit, thanksin part to significant operations like Wrath of God. But they’re not alone.

Israeli Special Forces, commonly called “Sayeret” in Hebrew, are elite military units within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). These forces are tasked with conducting unconventional warfare, counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, and special operations.

The selection and training process for Israeli Special Forces units is exceptionally rigorous. As such, soldiers aspiring to join these elite units must undergo a demanding screening and assessment process. Only the best candidates are selected, and the training is arduous, testing physical and mental capabilities.

The training includes marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, survival skills, navigation, and various specialized skills relevant to the specific unit’s role. Training prepares soldiers for the challenges they will face during missions, including operating behind enemy lines and responding to terrorist threats.

Once an Israeli joins the Israel Special Forces, they’ll be assigned to one of a few different groups.

• Sayeret Matkal, often called “The Unit,” is the IDF’s most prestigious and secretive special operations unit. Their primary roles are intelligence gathering, deep reconnaissance, and conducting special missions behind enemy lines. Sayeret Matkal, notably, played a vital role in the 1976 Operation Entebbe, a daring rescue mission in Uganda, and other high-profile operations.
• Shayetet 13 is the naval special forces unit of the IDF. They are highly trained in sea, air, and land operations and specialize in underwater combat and maritime counterterrorism. Shayetet 13 has been involved in numerous operations to protect Israel’s coastline and offshore assets.Their missions include combating piracy, intercepting arms shipments, and responding to maritime terror threats.
• Duvdevan, known as the “Cherry” unit, focuses on undercover counterterrorism and intelligence gathering. They are known for their ability to blend in with the local population, often disguising themselves as Arabs to carry out covert operations in urban environments.
• Maglan specializes in deep reconnaissance, covert intelligence gathering, and guerrilla warfare. They are often deployed behind enemy lines to gather information, eliminate high-value targets, and disrupt enemy activities.
• Sayeret Golani is an elite unit that operates under the Golani Brigade. They focus on counterterrorism, covert reconnaissance, and special operations, particularly in the northern regions of Israel.
• Sayeret Givati is another elite unit operating under the Givati Brigade. Theyexcel in urban warfare, intelligence gathering, and counterterrorism operations.
• The Yamam is a civilian counterterrorism unit under the Israeli police force, but they often work closely with military special forces. They are responsible for responding to terrorist incidents within Israel, such as hostage situations and sieges.

At various points in history, these different Israel Special Forces units have cooperated and worked together. One of the most famous missions by Sayeret Matkal, Operation Entebbe involved the rescue of Israeli hostages held by terrorists at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Israeli commandos flew to Entebbe, defeated the terrorists, and successfully rescued the hostages.