Israel’s Yeḥida Merkazit Meyuḥedet, aka YAMAM, is one of the most elite counter-terror units in the world. It is often referred to as the National Counter-Terrorism Unit or the Centralised Special Unit. The unit was formed after the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics of 1972. This event led Israel to realise the need for a dedicated and elite hostage rescue team. The Ma’alot Massacre just two years later forced Tel Aviv to act on that realisation.
YAMAM is under the command of the Israel National Police and a unit of the Border Police (Magav). The unit is responsible for counter-terror and hostage rescue missions within Israel. It works closely with other Israeli agencies, such as Shin Bet and Sayeret Matkal. However, as far as the public is concerned, it is an organisation shrouded in secrecy. YAMAM’s successes are often attributed to other forces and those who serve are referred to with a single initial. Its reputation within the counterterrorism world has led Western nations to consult the unit on issues relating to hostage rescue.
Images Sourced From: Israeli Police, Israeli Border Police, Israel Police, Israel Police, Israeli Border Guard
1 YAMAM Motto, Symbols and History
1.1 Motto
“I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back until they were destroyed” (Psalm” 18:37).
This motto reflects the dedication required for the unit. It also reflects the totality to which they complete their missions: YAMAM takes no prisoners. [source]
1.2 Symbols
YAMAM is associated with the symbol above. Its insignia includes Hebrew text translating to “National Counter Terror Unit.” The insignia also contains a laurel wreath symbolising triumph. Within this wreath lies the winged badge of the Star of David, associated with Judaism and the State of Israel.
1.3 History
1.3.1 Munich Olympics 1972
YAMAM’s origins lie in the terrorist attacks of the 1970s. One such event was the hostage crisis at the Munich Olympics of 1972. On 05 September 1972 five Black September militants entered the Olympic Village, killing two Israeli athletes and taking nine hostages. The hostage takers demanded the release of more than two hundred Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. An aircraft to fly them to the Middle East was included in the demands. The terrorists and negotiators reached an agreement. The terrorists transferred the hostages to the nearby Fürstenfeldbruck airbase, where a Boeing 727 waited. [source, source]
The rescue attempt conducted by the West German police ended in disaster. The German police abandoned Plan A, where they were to dress as aircraft crew before overpowering the terrorist. Plan B intended snipers to target the terrorists individually as they boarded the plane. However, a lack of expert snipers and proper equipment led to all Israeli hostages losing their lives. The enormous failure of the Munich rescue mission led to the creation of an elite unit specialised in hostage rescue and counter-terror. [source, source]
1.3.2 Ma’alot Massacre 1974
On 15 May 1974, three members of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine entered Israel through the Lebanese border. Dressed as IDF soldiers, they took over the Netiv Meir Elementary School in Ma’alot, holding hostage over one hundred teachers and teenagers. The captors demanded the release of twenty-three Palestinian prisoners held on terror charges. Negotiations followed, breaking the Israeli principle of “not negotiating with terrorists,” and the government agreed to release the prisoners. However, a breakdown in negotiations led to a last-minute commando raid. This occurred 15 minutes before the hostage-takers threatened to kill the children if Israel did not meet their demands. [source, source, source, source]
Although the raid successfully killed all three terrorists, twenty-two children died before the IDF could rescue them. Failure to successfully conduct the operation highlighted the IDF’s unsuitability for complex hostage rescue missions. Additionally, the need to negotiate with the hostage-takers further emphasized the requirement for a new, highly trained and dedicated force. The Ma’alot Massacre, along with the Munich Olympics, indicated that hostage-taking was a preferred tactic for terrorist organisations to bring states to the negotiating table. Israel needed a specialised hostage rescue unit. YAMAM was born. [source]
1.3.3 YAMAM
The Israeli government announced YAMAM as the national counter-terrorism unit on 01 December 2021 and allocated $3.7 million for 2022 to strengthen the unit. YAMAM plays a critical role in Israeli society due to the prevalence of terrorism within the state and the threat it poses to civil society. In addition to its esteem within Israel, YAMAM is widely regarded as one of the world’s best at close-quarters combat and several Western nations consult it on issues relating to hostage rescue and counter-terror. The unit averages around 300 missions per year, sometimes called out up to three times a day. This indicates the need for YAMAM within the Israeli defence structure and the trust placed in them from other units, politicians, and the public. [source, source, source]
2 YAMAM Organisation
2.1 Israeli National Police
YAMAM is under the command of the Israeli National Police (INP) and is responsible for maintaining law and order within the state. Unlike many other nations, Israel possesses only one national police service. It is under the charge of the Minister of Public Security and contains six regions:
- Policing, Security and Community
- Investigations and Intelligence
- Traffic
- Planning and Organisation,
- Support and Logistics
- Human Resources.
The INP is responsible for the state’s internal security, so countering terror attacks falls within its remit. Responsibility for internal security means it is challenged with traditional, day-to-day policing and responding to emergencies. The INP has faced challenges in recruitment, and the officer-to-civilian ratio is one of the lowest in the West. The large area covered by the INP and the need to counter a wide variety of threats has led to the development of units able to counter specific threats. [source, source, source]
2.2 Israeli Border Police
Within the INP, YAMAM is a unit under the Israeli Border Police, otherwise known as Magav. The unit was established in 1948 when former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir established the essential infrastructure for the new Israeli state. Initially, it was under the command of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF), and Magav spent much of its formative years countering border infiltrations. However, the Six-Day War saw it take on greater responsibilities, such as quelling resistance. [source]
Magav is responsible for patrolling sensitive areas and conducting counter-terror operations. After the Yom Kippur War, when Egypt and Syria attacked Israel on two fronts, command of the Border Police transferred to the INP. Transferring the Border Police to the jurisdiction of the INP reflects the militarisation present in a large stretch of Israeli society. Within the Border Police are sixty-eight units, including an anti-riot unit, a K-9 unit and a dedicated counter-terror unit. However, Magav was not considered a sufficient counter to the threat level posed to Israelis by terrorism and hostage-taking. [source, source]
2.3 Associate Organisations
YAMAM works closely with other intelligence and special forces units, such as Sayeret Matkal and Shin Bet.
2.3.1 Israel Defence Force
The Israel Defence Force is the national military of the state of Israel. It comprises the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Navy and the Israeli Air Force. Within the ground forces, there are four distinguished corps: the “Elite 4”, “Special Forces”, “Commando”, and “Combat Brigades”. Sayeret Matkal is one of the members of the “Elite 4”. [source, source]
2.3.2 Sayeret Matkal
Sayeret Matkal is primarily an intelligence-gathering unit that conducts reconnaissance deep inside enemy territory. It is also responsible for counter-terror and hostage rescue missions outside of Israel. The unit’s focus on intelligence gathering and reconnaissance made it unsuitable for complex hostage rescue missions inside Israel, as became apparent on several occasions. [source]
2.3.3 Shin Bet
Shin Bet, also known as the Israel Security Agency, is responsible for Israel’s internal security. Unlike the INP, it is an intelligence agency primarily tasked with countering foreign espionage and domestic political subversion, ensuring the security of vital institutions within Israel and abroad. The ISA statute, passed in February 2002 enshrines the responsibilities of Shin Bet in Israeli law. This statute makes public the role of Shin Bet, something that the majority of other nations choose to keep a closely guarded secret. [source, source]
2.4 YAMAM Personnel
2.4.1 Selection
Membership of YAMAM is highly selective and secretive. Of 1,500 applicants, only 12 to 15 pass selection. These applicants will have at least twelve years of schooling, three years of combat service in the IDF or Magav, and a Rifleman class of 08 or above. (Rifleman 08 is an advanced level of rifle training, with classes ranging from 03-12.) Successful applicants sign a three-year contract, renewed every five years, and the retention rate within the unit is 90%. [source, source, source]
2.4.2 Organisation
YAMAM is organised into small teams of around fifteen fighters. Such teams are dubbed “tequila” teams due to the name of the alert given to YAMAM by Shin Bet to indicate an impending terror attack. The origins of the reference “tequila” are unclear. The small teams reflect the high level of group cohesion within YAMAM, and despite undertaking challenging tasks, they result in a minimum number of individuals required to complete successful missions. [source]
2.5.1 Commanders
2.5.1.1 Assaf Hefetz
YAMAM has not always received the admiration it does today. After its creation, the military and intelligence services shunned the unit. For instance, it was not until Assaf Hefetz, an IDF paratrooper, took charge that YAMAM’s recognition of the unit as elite began. [source, source]
More specifically, on the 11th of March 1978, eleven members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) entered Israel from Lebanon by sea, taking control of a civilian bus. Whilst waiting for the arrival of his unit, Hefetz gave chase, killing two of the assailants and capturing a third. What became known as the “Coastal Road Massacre” ended after a ten-hour standoff between Israeli forces and the PLO and the deaths of thirty-eight of the seventy-one hostages. However, Hefetz’s efforts exhibited the potential of YAMAM, showing the dedication to the mission of those within the unit. [source, source]
2.5.1.2 Alik Ron
In 1987, Alik Ron took over as commander of YAMAM. He had served in Sayeret Matkal and participated in the 1976 raid on Entebbe. Entebbe saw over one hundred hostages freed from the hijacked Air France Flight 139 after the rescue forces disguised themselves as Ugandan troops. During his time in command at YAMAM, he oversaw several successful missions, including the “Mothers’ Bus Attacks.” On the morning of March 7 1988, three members of the PLO hijacked a bus full of Israeli women on their way to work. YAMAM arrived at the scene before Sayeret Matkal and retook the bus in little more than a minute, with only three Israeli fatalities. Above all, under Ron’s command, YAMAM secured its place as one of the elite. [source, source, source, source]
3 YAMAM Weaponry
The weapons used by YAMAM are of American, Austrian, French and Italian design. The arsenal includes rifles, sniper rifles, and semi-automatic pistols. [source]
3.1 Rifles and Sniper Rifles
YAMAM uses a range of rifles and sniper rifles for its operations. These include the Barrett MRAD, REC10 and Colt M4AQ SOPMOD and McMillan Alias CS5. The Barrett MRAD, specifically, is designed to meet the United States Special Operations Performance Specification requirements for the Precision Sniper Rifle. This reflects the unit’s expertise and the high-quality weaponry available to YAMAM. [source, source]
3.2 Pistols
YAMAM’s pistol arsenal includes the Glock 17, 19C and 26 models. The Glock 17 is a standard pistol with a 17-magazine capacity. It is the weapon of choice for many armed forces globally. Similarly, the Glock 26 is a subcompact version recommended as a backup for carriers of the G17 possessing the same calibre. [source, source]
3.3 Submachine Guns
Submachine guns within the unit include the IWI UZI, Fabrique Nationale FN P90, and COLT CAR-15 Commando [XM177]. The Uzi is famed for use by the Israeli special forces, and this weapon’s newer models are lighter than its predecessor’s. [source, source]
4 YAMAM Operations
Due to YAMAM’s highly secretive nature, many operations are classified or attributed to other units. However, YAMAM’s role in several operations is public knowledge.
4.1 Ibrahim Hamed 2006
A joint IDF, INP and ISA operation on 23 May 2006 in Ramallah, Palestine, led to the arrest of senior Hamas leader Ibrahim Hamed. Forces surrounded his house and promised that failure to surrender would destroy Hamed and his home. Hamed has since received 54 subsequent life sentences, accused of planning suicide attacks that killed numerous Israelis during the Second Intifada. He was also the top West Bank commander of the Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam brigades, Hamas’ military wing. [source, source, source]
Although YAMAM is not named directly in reports of Hamed’s arrest, we assess that this reflects the secrecy of the unit rather than the lack of involvement. The association of the raid with INP, under which YAMAM operates, suggests that they played a part in the operation, even if not named explicitly. Additionally, the counter-terror nature of the mission and high-profile target indicate that YAMAM would likely have played a critical role.
4.2 Operation Breakwater 2022
In 2022, due to the number of terrorist attacks occurring in Israel, Operation Breakwater was launched. The operation was a widespread counter-terror mission that led to the arrest of 1,500 wanted suspects and the prevention of hundreds of terrorist attacks. Operation Breakwater led to the number of attacks inside Israel dropping dramatically, with nightly raids conducted in terrorist hotspots such as the Jenin Refugee Camp. YAMAM received the General Staff’s Medal for the mission’s success. The recognition of YAMAM’s role in the operation was likely due to the success achieved by the mission and a statement of warning by the Israeli government that they possessed such a force and were not afraid to use it. [source, source, source]
4.3 October 7th 2023
At around 0630 hours on 07 October 2023, Hamas-led fighters entered Israel. The surprise attack killed more than 1,300 Israelis, injured 3,300 and took hundreds of hostages. More than 360 of these deaths were at the Supernova festival in southern Israel. [source, source, source]
Israel’s doctrine in the case of a terror attack of this nature was for the deployment of a specialised force equipped to deal with the situation accordingly. YAMAM was one such force. YAMAM prepared for four levels of penetration:
- A border fence breach;
- Terrorists reaching nearby border communities;
- Entering cities;
- Reaching significant cities such as Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
07 October was a “C” breach. However, the unit was able to prevent a significant attack on Kibbutz Yad Mordechai and prevented the terrorists from entering the area. Yad Mordechai is symbolic to Israel, named after Mordechai Anielewicz. Anielewicz was the commander of the Jewish Fighting Organisation during the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. [source, source, source, source]
Israeli doctrine for such situations, as well as the drawn-out hostage situation that has ensued, highlights the increasing relevance and need for a unit such as YAMAM. However, an investigation by the INP found that the Shin Bet had failed to provide YAMAM with sufficient intelligence regarding the threat posed by Hamas. The widespread belief that Israeli intelligence failed on 07 October led to the resignation of the IDF chief, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, who also called for a commission of inquiry into the attack. Whether or not this will have operational repercussions for YAMAM is yet to be seen. [source, source]
4.3.1 2025 Ceasefire and Hostage Release
The ceasefire deal between Hamas and the Israeli government came into force on 14 January 2025. During the first phase of the ceasefire, Israel is to release around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas’s release of 33 Israeli prisoners. Hamas has called for the release of several high-profile names. Among these are Khalida Jarrar, leader of the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine, Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader and Ibrahim Hamed. We assess that the potential release of high-profile figures into a highly volatile political situation will make YAMAM an even more important player in Israel’s defence. [source, source]
5 YAMAM Summary
YAMAM is Israel’s elite police unit, specialised in counter-terror and hostage rescue within the state. Part of the INP and a unit of the Magav, YAMAM has become a critical part of Israel’s defence apparatus. Working closely with the IDF, Sayeret Matkal, and Shin Bet, it is a highly elite and selective unit that accepts only the most dedicated fighters. After the world saw the need to possess highly skilled hostage-recuse teams after the disaster of the Munich Olympics in 1972, the Ma’alot Massacre of 1974 only affirmed Israel’s need for such a force. YAMAM’s commanders have led it to success. Leading the unit to esteem through the successful completion of missions such as the arrest of Ibrahim Hamed, its role in Operation Breakwater and its critical role in the 07 October attacks, YAMAM has become known as one of the world’s most elite counter-terror units.
