A moving ceremony was held yesterday (Wednesday) at the YAMAM base in central Israel, where 12 new fighters were officially inducted into the elite counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit of the Israel Police. After eight months of grueling training, they were the only ones to complete the course out of some 1,200 candidates who competed for a place in the prestigious unit. Only those who demonstrated extraordinary physical and mental resilience earned the coveted fighter’s pin.
The ceremony was attended by Israel Police Commissioner Insp.-Gen. Daniel Levi, Border Police Commander Maj.-Gen. Brik Yitzhak, and YAMAM Commander Dep.-Cmdr. “A.”
During their training, the new graduates participated in both covert and overt operations alongside veteran fighters, helping to thwart terror attacks in multiple conflict zones. Speaking at the ceremony on behalf of the class, one graduate said:
“The path we’ve taken didn’t begin on the first day of training—it started long before. Our hope is to prove ourselves worthy, each and every day, in the fullest sense of the word.”
At the ceremony, the unit commander presented engraved knives to the four course commanders, each bearing the unit’s insignia. In addition, nine other fighters were awarded “Golden Wings” pins in recognition of more than five years of service in operational combat roles within the unit.
Among the First Deployed to the Front Lines
On October 7, 2023, as the Hamas attack on Israel began, YAMAM fighters were among the first to be deployed to key battlefronts. At 6:45 a.m., the first reports of terrorist infiltration arrived, and within less than an hour, the unit reached the city of Sderot. There, they encountered dozens of armed terrorists barricaded inside the local police station.
In a fierce battle, the fighters managed to rescue four police officers trapped inside, while under intense fire, grenades, and explosives. At one point, to reach officers stranded on the station roof, YAMAM fighters used a fire department crane to lower themselves under heavy fire and evacuate the wounded.
Later that day, YAMAM forces also operated in Ofakim, where terrorists had taken Rachel Edri and her husband hostage in their home. In a daring raid, the fighters successfully rescued the couple without harm.
On October 7, the Entire Nation Witnessed the Power of YAMAM
Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levi referred to the unit’s actions during the October 7 massacre in his speech:
“Today there is no doubt—YAMAM plays a central and vital role in our national security, both in complex criminal incidents and in terror attacks. On October 7, the entire country witnessed YAMAM’s power. Since that day, our fighters have carried out numerous operations in Gaza and the West Bank, taking part in bold missions to thwart terrorism, rescue hostages, and save lives. You operate at the heart of danger, quietly and secretly, risking your lives for the people of Israel. The Torah teaches us that true heroism lies not only in strength, but in the ability to act with humility and a sense of purpose.”
“You Chose a Unique Mission”
Border Police Commander Maj.-Gen. Brik Yitzhak addressed the new fighters:
“You’ve chosen a unique mission—one that you join today after a long and demanding journey, following an especially selective screening process. If you’re standing here, it means you beat the system and proved yourselves the most worthy.
Many of you bore the burden of combat in active reserve duty until the training course began, each in your respective operational unit. This shows the deep values you carry in your blood and the limitless mental and physical strength you possess.”
“You are joining a unit that has written entire chapters in the history of the State of Israel, in daring operations that are better left unspoken. But none compare to the most recent chapter—still being written since October 7—in which you too, the new fighters before us, have already taken part,” he added.
“Being a YAMAM Fighter Is a Way of Life”
YAMAM Commander Dep.-Cmdr. “A” stated:
“Being a YAMAM fighter is a way of life. You’ve chosen a profession that demands constant renewal. It means knowing how to work as a team, where brotherhood is everything. It means being ready for whatever may come. It’s a mission, and a commitment to serve the country.
YAMAM is the tip of the spear in the fight against organized crime and terrorism—forces working together to undermine our national resilience. This is a unit that tracks down every source of criminal activity, whether in refugee camps or wherever they may hide. The hand of the unit will reach them. I can confidently say that the graduates of this course are among the very best our nation can produce.”
