Inside the Shin Bet's INSANE 2024: A rare look at Israel's domestic security agency in wartime

Israel's domestic security service has pulled back the curtain on a year marked by war, counter-terrorism, and evolving threats. In its annual report released today, the Shin Bet reveals a dramatic surge in operations across all sectors of Israeli society.

The numbers tell a stark story. The agency prevented 1,040 significant attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem - from shooting plots to attempted suicide bombings. Yet despite this heightened threat environment, successful attacks actually dropped by 40% compared to the previous year.

In Gaza, where the agency has operated extensively since October, over 2,500 detainees have been processed. More than 650 underwent intensive interrogation, including 40 senior commanders and 165 individuals with close ties to leadership. About 100 detainees were questioned specifically about hostage-related intelligence.

The Iranian shadow looms large over the report's findings. The Shin Bet documented a startling 400% increase in Iranian espionage cases compared to 2023, leading to 27 serious indictments of Israeli citizens. Thirteen major espionage operations were uncovered, marking what the agency describes as a significant escalation in Tehran's intelligence efforts against Israel.

On the home front, the agency identified 20 terror cells among Arab Israeli citizens, with five allegedly planning car bombings or explosive attacks. The elite "Team Tequila" unit - a joint task force with Israeli police special operations - deployed 32 times for immediate threat response

The digital battlefield has intensified dramatically. Cyber attacks have increased fivefold since the war began, with the agency and its partners thwarting approximately 700 significant attempts.

In an unprecedented move, the Shin Bet included audio recordings from hostage rescue operations, including the extraction of Ori Megidish from Gaza and the rescue of Louis Har and Fernando Marman.

The Shin Bet also carried out dozens of complex security operations abroad, including two special security missions: protecting the sports delegation to the Olympics in Paris, France, and securing the Israeli delegation to Eurovision in Malmö, Sweden.