Former Shin Bet Chief Ronen Bar Admits Direct Hamas Contact with Netanyahu’s Approval

In a 2025 cabinet meeting, former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar confessed to maintaining direct contact with Hamas abroad to advance the release of hostages, bypassing intermediaries. Bar emphasized that this operation had explicit approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He also questioned why his team was removed from the hostage negotiation framework despite his role in establishing the direct communication channel.

These revelations were reported by Channel 12 after the military censor allowed the publication of a story previously banned in April 2025. The timing of this disclosure coincides with journalist Ben Caspit’s report that Netanyahu engaged in talks with Hamas through his associate Shlomi Fogel.

Sources involved suggest the decision to permit the story’s release may aim to send a public message that if contacts with Hamas were possible after the October 7 events, it undermines claims that such negotiations occurred earlier. This development sheds new light on the Israeli government’s handling of hostage negotiations and its communication strategy regarding Hamas contacts.