In 2024, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) revealed in its annual report that over 1,000 terror attacks inside Israel were prevented. The year also saw a significant rise in cyberattacks, hostage rescue missions in Gaza, and special operations in Jenin and Lebanon.
Noteworthy operations included the rescue of eight hostages alive and the recovery of 28 bodies from Gaza for proper burial. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israel experienced a fivefold increase in cyberattacks, with Shin Bet, in collaboration with the military and National Cyber Directorate, successfully thwarting 700 of them. Of these, 66% were attempts to gather intelligence or spy on Israelis, 32% aimed to damage cyber networks, and the remaining 2% involved psychological operations like phishing attempts.
The Shin Bet also prevented 1,040 terror attacks, mainly in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, including 689 shootings, 326 attacks with explosive devices, 13 stabbings, nine car-rammings, two suicide bombings, and one kidnapping. Despite the rise in thwarted attacks, the overall number of incidents in the region decreased by 40%, attributed to improved intelligence and better coordination with the army and other security agencies.
In the Gaza Strip, Shin Bet operations resulted in the detention of over 1,350 individuals, including 40 senior operatives and commanders, 165 close associates of senior leaders, and around 100 individuals with information about hostages. Interrogations of 650 detainees led to actionable intelligence that enabled successful strikes on terror targets, contributing to the rescue of hostages and informing military maneuvers.
In Lebanon, the Shin Bet eliminated senior operatives from Palestinian terror organizations, including Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Within Israel, the agency dismantled 13 espionage plots, arresting 37 Israelis accused of spying for Iran, with 27 facing indictment. Additionally, the Shin Bet uncovered 20 terror cells among Israeli-Arabs.
