Shin Bet Chief Vows to Hunt Down All Hamas Attackers Indefinitely

The head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar, issued a stark warning to those who planned and executed the October 7th Hamas massacre, vowing that Israeli security forces would pursue them relentlessly, regardless of time or distance. Bar's remarks were made during a ceremony at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, where President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented commendations to 18 Shin Bet employees.

"To the planners of the massacre, to its perpetrators, and to all who lent a hand to the desecration of Israel's honor and blood, and to all who desire our destruction, we have one uncompromising message," Bar stated. "There is no place too far, no forgiveness, and no expiration date. We have pursued, we are pursuing, and we will continue to pursue you to the last participant." He emphasized that Israel's long and determined arm would reach everyone who harmed them, "in the depths of tunnels, in hidden command centers, and in every corner of the globe."

Bar acknowledged the security failures leading up to the October 7th attack and discussed the ongoing process of correction within the Shin Bet. He described the agency as Israel's "internal protective shield," responsible for counter-terrorism both abroad and in the West Bank, combating directed terror within Israel, thwarting Iranian operations, and engaging in cyber and technological warfare. He stressed that the memory of the massacre fuels the agency's operations, stating, "The lessons are etched into our bones and are a significant component of the fire that drives us day by day, hour by hour."

Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, highlighting the Shin Bet's success in thwarting approximately 1,000 attacks in the West Bank. He reiterated Israel's commitment to eliminating Hamas and Hezbollah and vowed to bring down the Iranian regime. President Herzog urged the Shin Bet employees to challenge conventional thinking and avoid groupthink, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives within the agency.

The ceremony honored 18 employees from various fields, including intelligence, cyber, investigations, operations, and technology. Their identities were revealed only by their first initial due to the sensitive nature of their work. Among the recognized achievements were thwarting complex attacks, developing innovative investigation methods, leading technological and operational projects, and contributing to intelligence gathering during the war, including efforts to locate hostages and missing persons.