Location of hostage bodies rescued on Thursday came from interrogation, says Shin Bet

The recovery of the bodies of five hostages from Gaza on Thursday was based on intelligence taken from interrogations of terrorists, Yossi Amrosi, a former senior Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) officer, told Maariv on Friday.

During the operation, the bodies of five captives were taken hostage on October 7 - St.-Sgt. Tomer Achimas, Warr.-Ofc. Ravid Aryeh Katz, Sgt. Kiril Brodski, Oren Goldin, and Maya Goren were recovered from Khan Yunis.

Amrosi said that “this was an operation that arose from intelligence deriving from Shin Bet investigations, carried out by investigators at detention facilities. In this war, there are a high number of detainees, and for the Shin Bet, this is like an intelligence treasure trove.”

He explained that the Shin Bet translated the intelligence “very quickly” into “high-quality information that can help the IDF soldiers in the field.”

According to Amrosi, the interrogations by the investigators indeed led to the precise location of the five bodies.

“There is no doubt that these interrogations bring high-quality data,” he says, adding that seven hostages have been rescued alive as a result, referring to the separate rescues on June 8, February 12, and October 30.

Speaking on the role of the interrogators, Amrosi said: “Terrorists who two days ago were fighting you in the field are now suddenly brought to the facilities, and the interrogators must use many methods and tricks to make them speak. It is very satisfying. You are an investigator of a Gazan terrorist, so of course, the first thing you will ask such a person is what they know about the hostages.”

Amrosi claimed that “Hamas is targeted by the IDF and the Shin Bet every day” and that he believed “military pressure is beneficial.”

Further, he noted that “the moment the IDF told the population to leave that area [Khan Yunis], everyone left, including the terrorists, leaving the bodies unattended.”

“We will continue the work and will not give up until we reach all the hostages, both the living and the dead,” he promised.

'Mission of our lives'

Separately, the Shin Bet posted on its Instagram page additional details about the operation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by שירות הביטחון הכללי (@shabak)

B, a Shin Bet officer who took part in the operation, said, “It is hard to describe in words how it feels to be part of such an operation.”

He spoke of the multiple parties involved in pinpointing such a precise location: “Investigators, coordinators, field agents, operators, desk officers, intelligence personnel, IDF forces, and others” were all involved.

“The sense of responsibility, the gravity of the moment, the understanding of the mission’s importance – all of it converges into one moment where you realize you are in the right place,” B continued.

“Returning the hostages, the fallen, and the living – this is the mission of our lifetime.”