
Haaretz: Netanyahu's Oct. 7 narrative distorted, minutes reveal omissions
Haaretz reports that minutes reviewed show Netanyahu lied, distorted and omitted facts in his 55-page account of October 7 and the intelligence failure leading up to it.
All articles tagged with #shin bet

Haaretz reports that minutes reviewed show Netanyahu lied, distorted and omitted facts in his 55-page account of October 7 and the intelligence failure leading up to it.

Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet chief David Zini, was arrested with 14 others in a police bust accusing a smuggling network of moving illegal goods—primarily cigarettes—into Gaza for profit. The indictment alleges 14 crates of cigarettes worth about 365,000 shekels (~$117,000), along with mobile phones and car parts, trafficked via West Bank and Gaza routes sometimes under humanitarian pretexts. Prosecutors say the ring aided Hamas and threatened Israeli security; Zini’s attorney denies the charges and notes no evidence links him to his brother. The investigation was led by police and Shin Bet, separately from the brother’s agency.

Israeli prosecutors charged Bezalel Zini, brother of Shin Bet head David Zini, with aiding the enemy in wartime for allegedly smuggling 14 cartons (about 7,000 packs) of cigarettes into Gaza in exchange for 365,000 shekels; the case is tied to a broader indictment accusing a crime ring of smuggling goods including iPhones and car parts to Hamas, with two accomplices also charged and Zini denying the allegations. His brother is not implicated.
The IDF and Shin Bet revealed the discovery of an underground weapons workshop and tunnel shaft adjacent to a Jordanian hospital in Gaza City, highlighting Hamas's use of hospitals for military purposes without Jordanian involvement, and uncovering additional tunnels beneath Gaza hospitals.
Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar announced that the agency will take severe action against those involved in firing flares at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea. Following the arrest of three suspects, Bar emphasized that such acts are considered serious threats rather than legitimate protests, and the Shin Bet is committed to protecting government symbols from violence.

An Israeli citizen, Elimelech Stern, has been charged with collaborating with Iranian spies by completing various tasks, including delivering a severed animal head, in exchange for cryptocurrency. The tasks were assigned by a social media user under the pseudonym "Anna Elena." Stern was also asked to start a forest fire and commit murder but did not carry out these tasks. Israeli authorities have identified and monitored numerous fake profiles used by Iranian intelligence to recruit Israeli citizens for such missions.
Three Israeli citizens have been arrested on suspicion of conducting espionage activities for Iranian intelligence. The Shin Bet and Israel Police uncovered that the suspects were recruited via social media to perform various tasks, including surveillance and delivering threatening messages. One of the suspects, Elimelech Stern, was in contact with an Iranian handler and received payments in cryptocurrency. The Jerusalem District Attorney’s Office has filed an indictment against Stern, while the other two suspects were questioned and released. Authorities warn the public to be cautious of suspicious online approaches.

Undercover Israeli police, guided by Shin Bet intelligence, killed a senior wanted terrorist in Nablus during a high-stakes operation that also resulted in injuries to several other armed terrorists. The mission, conducted in collaboration with the Shomron Brigade and Nachshon Battalion, faced significant resistance, including gunfire and explosives from nearby terrorists. The killed terrorist was identified by Palestinians as Adam Salah Faraj.
The IDF and Shin Bet have eliminated Hamas terrorist Nasser Yakob Jabber Nasser, who played a significant role in funding the organization's military activities in Rafah, having transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hamas for further military operations last December.
Israeli security forces thwarted an assassination attempt on National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir by a mixed terror cell of Israeli-Arabs and Palestinians, who also planned to target Ben Gurion Airport and government offices. The cell intended to attack Ben Gvir in Kiryat Arba using rocket-propelled grenades and had plans to kidnap IDF soldiers.
Israeli security forces arrested the sister of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on suspicion of ties to Hamas and involvement in incitement and support for terror, conducting a raid in Tel Sheva and finding evidence of serious security offenses. The operation, named "Early Dawn," involved a joint effort by the police and Shin Bet, and the suspect, Zebah Abdel Salem Haniyeh, is set to appear in court for a detention extension.
The IDF and the Shin Bet conducted a strike against Islamic Jihad terrorists and infrastructure in the Rafah area, ensuring no damage was caused to a nearby hospital. They emphasized their commitment to operating under international law and minimizing harm to non-combatants.

The recent successful rescue operation of two hostages from a refugee camp in Rafah has weakened Hamas' perceived ability to safeguard its captives and may lead to concerns among families entrusted with hostages, potentially prompting some to consider transferring them to prevent harm. The operation, carried out by the Yamam and Shin Bet forces, also highlights the IDF's access to high-quality intelligence on Hamas and the hostages, signaling a weakened Hamas organization. However, with 134 hostages still held by Hamas, the road ahead remains challenging, and true victory will only be achieved when all hostages are safely returned.
The Shin Bet, IDF, and special police forces successfully rescued two Argentinian hostages, Fernando Herman and Louis Norbeto, from Hamas in Rafah. The operation involved airstrikes against Hamas's Shabura battalion to conceal the true goal of the mission. The hostages, aged 61 and 70, were freed using explosives, heavy fire, and precise intelligence, with one soldier sustaining minor injuries. The rescued hostages were brought to Shiba Hospital and are reported to be in good condition.

A senior IDF official has expressed concern over suspected Hamas infiltration of the Israeli military, citing "heavy suspicion" that Hamas intelligence had access to sensitive information about the IDF's most classified sites before October 7. The official raised questions about how this information was obtained, suggesting potential assistance from a foreign power and deeming the situation a "double failure" for the Shin Bet, responsible for uncovering Hamas's plans and thwarting espionage attempts.