Senior Shin Bet Official Recounts Oct. 7 Horrors, Daughter's Murder

Mira Shoshani, a senior official in the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) who was on duty during the October 7th Hamas attacks, has spoken out about the devastating personal and professional failures she experienced that day. Shoshani, who was responsible for intelligence on Hamas leaders abroad, was at her home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza when the attack began. Her husband, Shi, went to rescue their daughter, Ofir, who was in a different part of the kibbutz, but Ofir was brutally murdered.

In a special interview, Shoshani described the overwhelming initial moments of the attack, noting the unprecedented intensity of the rocket fire. She expressed deep regret and a sense of failure regarding the Shin Bet's inability to anticipate and prevent the massacre. Shoshani, who had extensive knowledge of Hamas leadership, including their daily routines, admitted to being part of a conceptual failure that underestimated the threat.

Shoshani recounted the harrowing experience of trying to communicate with her daughter Ofir as the attack unfolded. Ofir, who had always been fearful of living near Gaza, was trapped in her room. Shoshani received a final, chilling message from Ofir saying, "Mom, I love you," before their communication was cut off. Her husband, Shi, was wounded while attempting to reach Ofir, and Shoshani herself was urged by colleagues to evacuate, but she refused, determined to stay until her daughter was rescued.

She detailed the chaos and disbelief as she tried to coordinate rescue efforts, initially being told by a superior that the incoming fire was a drill. Shoshani also addressed criticism leveled against the Shin Bet, including accusations of prioritizing the evacuation of its own personnel, which she vehemently denied, stating that she and her colleagues paid an "inhuman price." She shared that the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, personally apologized to her.

Following the tragedy, Shoshani has established the "Ofir Center for Leadership" in memory of her daughter, aiming to train emergency commanders and instill a sense of humility and preparedness. She stated that she cannot forgive herself for failing to save her daughter, whom she described as her "entire world."