Many people first became aware of the unit on October 7, when special forces from Israel's elite counterterrorism unit, Yamam, carried out a daring daylight raid on two homes deep in central Gaza, safely rescuing four hostages who had been forcibly taken across the border.
YAMMU's activities have been shrouded in secrecy for many years, with credit for their missions often going to other units. “Until a few years ago, not many people knew about YAMMU's activities,” a unit source told Fox News Digital. But in the age of smartphones and social media, videos of their activities have spread online. “We understand that the rules of the game have changed today, when social media broadcasts activities in real time,” the source said.
Yamam (Hebrew: Yehida Merkajit Meyuhedet, Special Central Unit) was established in 1974 as a special unit of the Israeli Border Guard, with the primary mission of neutralizing and resolving hostage situations. In this respect it is similar to the FBI's hostage rescue teams, but is also capable of rapid strikes such as the hostage rescue carried out in Gaza in June, and is said to work closely with, train and cooperate with elite American units such as Delta Force and the Navy SEALs.
Israel rescues hostages held captive by Hamas for 325 days
The Yamam counter-terrorism unit operates somewhere in Israel. (Israel Police Spokesperson's Office)
“Yamm is like an aircraft carrier with a wide range of internal capabilities,” retired force commander Zohar Dvir told Fox News Digital. The force includes specialists such as snipers, bomb disposal experts, dog trainers, doctors and an undercover agent nicknamed “Mister Arabim.” “It's totally Fauda,” Dvir added.
“Yammu equips its personnel with cutting-edge technology,” former commander of the unit, Lt. Gen. David Toole, told Fox News Digital. “The unit serves as a testing ground for innovation, working with civilian and defense industry to refine technology and make it more applicable to a wider range of applications.”
“What sets Yamam apart is its ability to execute thousands of high-risk operations with extraordinary precision,” de Ville explained.
“Yamm is considered one of the most experienced counterterrorism forces in the world,” a force commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Fox News Digital. “Due to the daily realities of countering the terrorist threat in the West Bank, Yamam fighters take part in hundreds of operations every year. Since Oct. 7, we have joined the fighting in Gaza.”
A race against time
Members of Yamam recently played a key role in the rescue of four hostages held by Hamas terrorists. (Israel Police Spokesperson's Office)
As part of the conditions of the interviews with Fox News Digital, all current Yamam members declined to give their full names due to safety considerations.
Intelligence pinpointing the hostages' location in the densely populated Nuseirat refugee camp had been collected weeks ago by Israel's domestic intelligence service, the Shin Bet, with the help of American and British drones. “The situation was known weeks ago,” team leader Capt. A told Fox News Digital. “We received the mission, surveyed the target and began preparations.”
On Saturday morning, the operatives arrived in civilian trucks at their target sites, just a few hundred meters apart. They raided two sites and rescued four hostages. At the first site, they found Noah Al-Ghamani, whose terrifying video was broadcast around the world as he was abducted by Israeli terrorists on a motorbike on the morning of October 7. At the second site, they rescued Shlomi Ziv, Andrei Kozlov and Almog Meir.
Despite resistance, “everything went according to plan,” said Deputy Superintendent A, a key figure in the operation.
Snipers from the Yamam Counter-Terrorism Unit monitor enemy forces. (Israel Police Spokesperson's Office)
The team faced a particularly difficult situation at the scene in Al-Ghamani, fearing that one of the terrorists might be near her. “The goal was to get to her as quickly as possible, which we did. We only realized she was alive when two operatives from the team, A and D, yelled, 'We have diamonds! We have diamonds!' After making sure she was with us, our first priority was to get her out safely,” recalls Sergeant Y.
Amid heavy fire, the soldiers shielded Al-Ghamani with their bodies and carried her to safety. “She was barefoot, so D. carried her on his back. She was shaking with fear, and couldn't believe what was happening, even when we told her we were taking her home,” A. told Fox News Digital.
Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora was killed during the raid. (Israel Defense Forces)
While Al-Ghamani's rescue went smoothly, the situation at the second apartment was much more complicated. Once inside, the team faced “very powerful” gunfire. In the ensuing battle, the team's commander, Arnon Zmora, was seriously wounded. “Everything happened very fast. It was just a matter of seconds,” Captain A recalled.
As with the rescue of Al-Ghamani, the team evacuated the hostages under fire, protecting them with bulletproof vests and helmets. “The area was like a hornet’s nest, full of militants both inside and outside,” said A. “We moved quickly. [the hostages] The military vehicle was under heavy fire from within and around the apartment building.”
Yamam forces conducted a rescue operation in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, coming under heavy fire. (Israel Defense Forces)
The hostages were rescued safely, but for the YAMUM men, the end of the mission was tragic. “We saved the hostages, but we lost one of our men,” one of the men told Fox Digital News, referring to Arnon Zmora, a 36-year-old father of two young sons. “But this is our privilege and our duty,” he said. “Whatever the cost, we will fight until the last soldier dies.”
“These operations are heroic, but they give the illusion that military pressure alone will free the hostages,” said Tour. “If there is an opportunity for a rescue operation, it should be taken, but in the end a hard and ugly deal must be made. On October 7th we were caught off guard and now we have to negotiate with the devil. Only a deal can get the hostages out alive,” Tour said.
The Nuseirat raid was the third time Yamam was involved in the rescue of hostages kidnapped by Hamas, including IDF guard Pvt. First Class Ori Megidish, who was held in the Gaza Strip, and Fernando Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, who were held in Rafah.
A soldier from the Yamam Counterterrorism Unit somewhere in Israel. (Israel Police Spokesperson's Office)
As one of Israel's most elite forces, its activities are often approved at the highest levels, including by the prime minister's office, and its fighters are generally older than IDF conscripts and have already seen heavy combat during their service in the IDF.
when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th.Yamam fighters were the first to react to the unfolding crisis, fighting in 15 locations that day, including a 27-hour battle with Hamas' elite Nuqba unit at a police station in the Israeli city of Sderot, next to Gaza's northern border, in which nine Yamam fighters were killed.
Noa Al-Ghamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, were rescued in two separate locations during a complex special daytime operation in the center of Nuseirat, central Gaza. (Israel Defense Forces)
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“They prevented Hamas' elite forces from advancing north, intercepting them at Yad Mordechai and neutralizing many of them. Arnon Zmora's team prevented them from advancing to Ashdod, Ashkelon and further towards Tel Aviv,” Dvir said, adding that “they eliminated more than 200 terrorists.”
“We fight for two reasons,” said G., a Yamam fighter who took part in the Battle of Sderot. “One is the desire to destroy the enemy and be the first to engage in combat. But much stronger is the desire to save human lives.”
